06/08/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/08/2026 11:03
On 5 June 2026, in Vienna, during the 35th session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, a resolution initiated by Belarus jointly with Kazakhstan, entitled 'Combating trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced criminality', was adopted by consensus.
This was the first time a resolution on this topic had been introduced within the UN system. The document aims to strengthen international cooperation in combating a new and dangerous form of human trafficking, in which victims are involved in unlawful activities for the benefit of criminal groups through the use of violence, deception or coercion.
The document contains a number of practical recommendations for states and other stakeholders on combating human trafficking. Particular attention is paid to the need to improve national legislation and law enforcement practices to ensure that victims of human trafficking are not held criminally liable for offences committed as a result of their exploitation, as well as to strengthen measures for their protection and support.
The resolution highlights the growing risks associated with the use of information and communication technologies, including the Internet and social media, for the recruitment, exploitation and control of victims, and calls on States to strengthen preventive measures, including through the development of digital literacy and the promotion of the safe use of digital technologies.
Belarus continues to actively promote the strengthening of international cooperation to combat human trafficking, which requires coordinated action at both national and international levels.