Belarus, Group of Friends adopt declaration on combating human trafficking

On July 30, 2025, in Vienna, together with a Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking, chaired by Belarus, made a joint statement on the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 

Joint Statement by Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Philippines, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Venezuela on the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons “Human Trafficking is Organised Crime – End the Exploitation”

The international community faces, across the globe, a severe challenge of proliferation of trafficking in persons.

The latest UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons highlights the rise of detected trafficking cases, with women and girls remaining the majority, and a growing number of child victims. Alarmingly, trafficking for forced labour is on the rise, as the share of total detected victims trafficked for forced labour had overtaken that of trafficking for sexual exploitation. 

One of the key factors facilitating human trafficking these days is digital technology. Trafficking for forced criminality in the emerging form of online scams confirms the transformation of crime into a new business model in which the online component becomes an important part of the actions of criminals. 
To revert negative trends, additional and accelerated action at both the national and international levels is needed.

The theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlights the critical role of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in dismantling trafficking networks. 

We recognise that significant progress in combating crime is possible only through joint concerted efforts of many countries on the basis of international treaties and conventions. 

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. The Protocol remains the cornerstone of the international legal framework to combat trafficking in persons. 

Guided by the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, we recognise the need to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the global fight against human trafficking and to ensure effective implementation of existing multilateral instruments.

We support diverse and integrated activities of UNODC, including as coordinator of Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), to assist States in the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, to improve counteraction measures and proliferate best practices in combating trafficking in persons.

Success in the fight against human trafficking is also linked to the effective implementation of other relevant international instruments, including the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Human Trafficking. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the UN Global Plan of Action. We reaffirm our collective commitment and full adherence to the comprehensive implementation of the Global Plan of Action through coordinated action at the international and national levels.

 We encourage UNODC and other ICAT Members to ensure full implementation of the Global Plan of Action.

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