Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Rybakov participates in the discussion in the UN

16 March 2017

16-03-2017

On March 15, 2017 during the visit to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Valentin Rybakov, participated in a Special High-Level Event on “Root Causes of Trafficking in Persons: Key Role of the Family for Protection and Prevention”. The event was organized upon the initiative of Belarus by the Group of Friends of the Family, together with partners from international and American non-governmental organisations that support a natural family.

Background Information: The Group of Friends of the Family was established in 2015. It includes 25 UN member states from all regions of the world. The Group of Friends of the Family defends the interests of a natural family and traditional family values in accordance with the definition of the family, enshrined in internationally agreed documents.

In his opening statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Family, V.Rybakov underlined risk factors that push potential victims into the hands of traffickers. Among these factors Deputy Foreign Minister mentioned poverty, lack of education and adequate livelihood, discrimination and gender-based violence.

V.Rybakov drew particular attention to the role of the family in the prevention of this crime. Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that stable family relationships can provide a vital shield against substance abuse and reduce economic vulnerability of people that is one of the main driven-factors of human trafficking.

Belarusian diplomat expressed hope that the next review of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, to be held this fall at the high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, will reinvigorate new innovative partnerships between Member States and international intergovernmental organisations, civil society on a comprehensive solution to this problem and that the family will contribute to this process.

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