Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 April (BelTA) – Belarus’ initiatives in the United Nations have formed the basis for combating trafficking in human beings, Belarus’ permanent representative in the OSCE Valery Voronetsky said at the opening of a session of the OSCE human trafficking conference, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The diplomat enumerated notable initiatives that Belarus suggested in the United Nations, including the adoption of a set of thematic resolutions and the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Valery Voronetsky pointed out that the initiatives laid the foundation for systematic and coordinated action to eliminate trafficking in persons. “In this context, Valery Voronetsky drew attention to the resolution Improving the Coordination of Efforts Against Trafficking in Persons adopted at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly on the initiative of Belarus. The document provides for the organization of a large-scale high-level meeting at the United Nations to assess the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons in October 2017,” the press service said.

Valery Voronetsky also emphasized that combating human trafficking is a priority for Belarus at the national and international level.

Valery Voronetsky is leading the Belarusian delegation at the 16th Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons High Level OSCE Conference. The event discusses the problem of human trafficking for coercion into criminal behavior. The delegation also comprises representatives of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Delegation of Belarus to the OSCE. A thematic event will be held as part of the conference on 12 April. A representative of the Belarusian Interior Ministry will give a keynote speech.