Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 30 July (BelTA) - OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Madina Jarbussynova praised Belarus’ special role in the development and adoption of the United Nations Global Plan of Actions to Combat Trafficking in Persons. She made the statement at the international seminar for the representatives of the authorized bodies of the states included in the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking on 30 July, BelTA has learned.

According to Madina Jarbussynova, special attention should be drawn to children who are the most vulnerable members of the society as the number of child victims of human trafficking has recently increased by 33%, according to the recent report of the United Nations. “The number of victims has increased by 5% in comparison with the data in the previous report,” she said. Taking this fact into account, the OSCE special representative urged all member states of the United Nations to join efforts in the fight against human trafficking.

“This approach was supported by all OSCE member states, including by the Belarusian government, with whom my office has been cooperating in this field for many years. I want to point out Belarus’ special role in the development and adoption of the United Nations Global Plan of Actions to Combat Trafficking in Persons five years ago,” Madina Jarbussynova said.

“We should not forget that human traffickers use modern technologies and, unfortunately, often outrun us; therefore, we have to solve the challenges and problems they create post factum,” she said.

Madina Jarbussynova also added that human trafficking is a lucrative illegal activity. According to the International Labor Organization, the annual revenues from human trafficking are estimated at approximately $150 billion. “This is not an absolute figure because trafficking in persons is a highly latent criminal activity,” she said.

The seminar in Minsk is one of the thematic events initiated by the Belarusian side to mark the World Day against Human Trafficking which is celebrated by the international community on 30 July and is expected to encourage the general public to pay more attention to the problem of human trafficking.

Partaking in the seminar are the representatives of authorized bodies from Belarus and 15 states included in the Group of Friends, authoritative international organizations and the civil society. The Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking which was established upon the initiative of Belarus at the UN comprises 22 states sharing the position of our country regarding the need to consolidate international efforts to combat human trafficking.

The meeting on 30 July is focused on combating trafficking in children for sexual and labor exploitation, eradication of Internet child pornography.

The event is organized as part of the international technical aid project aimed at stepping up international efforts against human trafficking in the context of the observation of human rights. This project is implemented by the Interior Ministry Academy jointly with the Interior Ministry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, UNDP and is financed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

The second international seminar for the representatives of the authorized bodies of the states included in the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking takes place on 30-31 July.