Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Rybakov participates in the meeting of Group of Friends of UNODC

28-09-2016

On September 27, 2016 during the visit to the UN headquarters in New York, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Valentin Rybakov, took part in the meeting of the Group of Friends of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Background Information: UNODC was founded in 1997. Combating human trafficking is one of the priorities of the activities of UNODC. Office helps governments to respond to the instability and security threats also for such crimes as smuggling of drugs, weapons, natural resources and counterfeit goods. Office deals with the new types of crime such as cybercrime, smuggling of cultural relics and environmental crimes.

The meeting was organized by the Mission of Austria to the United Nations and New York Office of UNODC. The topic of the meeting, which was attended by about 20 high representatives of countries that are part of the Group of Friends, was the fight against human trafficking.

Background Information: Belarus is a coordinator of the Group of  Friends United against Human Trafficking, which brings together 24 counties. The top priority of the activities of Belarus to the United Nations on this issue for the forthcoming year is the proper arrangement of the first review of the implementation of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, to be held in the UN General Assembly in October 2017.

Special attention during the meeting was paid to the issue of uniting of efforts of the states and civil society in fight against modern slavery.

Famous American actor, Will Smith, participated in the event as a guest of honor. Will Smith’ charitable foundation considers the possibility of supporting international activities on combatting trafficking in persons. 

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