On July 30, 2014 the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus held a briefing on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. This year, this date is celebrated for the first time.

The briefing was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus in the Russian Federation, representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to the Russian Federation, IOM Moscow Chief of Mission and the colleagues, the Head of the International Training Center on migration and combating trafficking in persons of the Academy of the Ministry of Interior of Belarus, by the Diplomatic Corps officials and the representatives of the federal government of the Russian Federation.

The briefing was opened by the welcome speech of Mr. Igor Petrishenko, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus in the Russian Federation, who expressed his gratitude to the participants of the briefing and to the management of IOM Moscow for help and support in organizing this event. The Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus in the Russian Federation emphasized the importance of the UN General Assembly resolution on "Improving the coordination of efforts against trafficking in persons", adopted on December 18th, 2013, and also noted that the Republic of Belarus was the first who initiated developing of a Global Partnership against Slavery and Human Trafficking in the XXI century at the 60th session of the UN General Assembly in 2005.

The Chief of Mission of IOM Moscow Mr. Zlatko Zigic welcomed the participants and thanked Mr. Ambassador for the organization of the event; he spoke about the global activity of the International Organization for Migration in different countries of the world, including the Russian Federation, in the field of counteracting trafficking in persons: "…Since 90s IOM has built considerable counter-trafficking expertise, having accumulated this experience through implementing over 1000 counter-trafficking projects in over 100 countries since the early 90’s, contributing to the comprehensive efforts of national government and non-governmental actors to eradicate modern slavery. The main activity of IOM in this area aims at prevention of trafficking, protection of victims, provision of assistance for voluntary return and reintegration. Overall, IOM has assisted over 65,000 women, men, girls and boys victims of trafficking mainly for sexual and labour purposes".

Mr. Vladimir Gerus, the Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Russian Federation made a brief presentation on the activities of the Republic of Belarus and its efforts to strengthen the capacity and improve coordination and cooperation in the fight against trafficking in persons at national and international levels.

The Head of the International Training Center on migration and combating trafficking in persons of the Academy of the Ministry of Interior of Belarus – Mr. Alexander Kravchenko told about the active work of the Center and invited all interested parties to cooperate in the provision of expert support and participation in the study courses in the following areas:

1. Combating human trafficking: systematic analysis, international cooperation and ways to improve law enforcement practice;
2. Social and psychological assistance for victims of human trafficking;
3. Migration of population: structural characteristics and models of organizational-legal regulation;
4. External labour migration;
5. Modern expert technologies of examining identity documents in order to establish their authenticity;
6. Modern technologies of a crime scene investigation and the use of the results of their application in the activities of a criminal prosecution.

Contacts of the Center: Minsk, 6 Masherov Ave. Belarus
Tel./fax: + 375 17 289 21 95; tel.: +375 17 289 21 09; E-mail: countertafficking@mail.by, itc@amia.unibel.by; www.academy.mia.by/itc

The Coordinator of IOM Moscow project on counteraction to trafficking in persons Ms. Juliana Pavlovskaya made a presentation on IOM Moscow activities in this field. She reported about 120 victims of trafficking, who received IOM Moscow direct assistance during the period from January 2013 till June 2014. They were provided with different services, including safe accommodation, medical, social, psychological assistance and consultation, legal support, voluntary return and reintegration. Also she told about two shelters for victims of trafficking functioning on the basis of the Russian Orthodox Church (in Moscow region) and the Russian Red Cross (in St. Petersburg) under support of IOM Moscow.

Documentary film about the efforts of the Republic of Belarus on combating of trafficking in persons at the national and international levels (made by the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Belarus jointly with the interested organizations)

Video on IOM global actions, including counteraction to trafficking in persons and its prevention

Video made by IOM for the potential groups of risk on human trafficking

Video made by IOM for the potential groups of risk on labour exploitation