Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 30 July (BelTA) – Belarus is leading in the CIS in combating trafficking in persons and protecting human rights, IOM Chief of Mission for Moscow Zlatko Zigic told media, BelTA has learnt.

Zlatko Zigic stressed that Belarus has a well-developed policy in these areas. “We are happy with the cooperation with Belarus. We have good relations in every issue,” the IOM Chief of Mission for Moscow said.

In his words, the International Organization for Migration highly appreciate Belarus’ contribution to the preparations of the resolution on improving the coordination of efforts against trafficking in persons adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 December 2013. The keynote of the resolution is to establish global partnership, coordination and cooperation in the fight against trafficking in people. The document also emphasizes the importance of humanitarian, legal and financial assistance to victims of trafficking, including though government, inter-government and non-government organizations.

The issue of slavery in the world changes its form, Zlatko Zigic noted. While sexual exploitation was an acute problem some 15-20 years ago, today labor exploitation comes to the forefront.

Speaking about the situation in Russia, the IOM Chief of Mission for Moscow stressed that many labor migrants come there as well as other economically developed states with overestimated expectations, without the knowledge of laws. “We always advise people that come to Russia to study their rights beforehand and work only under official contracts,” he said.

On 30 July Zlatko Zigic took part in a special briefing highlighting the declaration of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons initiated by Belarus. The event took place in the Embassy of Belarus in Russia and gathered representatives of the diplomat corps from more than 20 countries which supported Belarus’ UN initiative in the fight against trafficking in persons as well as Russian federal agencies.

The briefing discussed Belarus’ national and international efforts against human trafficking, IOM projects to combat trafficking in persons in Russia.