Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking emerged in UN under Belarus initiative

In the United Nations, Belarus together with 19 countries across all regions initiated the emergence of the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking. These are Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.

The Permanent Representatives of these Member States informed the UN Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly about their decision to forge the Group in a formal letter (download below).

An informal, voluntary and open-ended association of UN Member States, the Group of Friends seeks to help reinvigorate and consolidate the global fight against trafficking in persons.

At the heart of this initiative is to promote the elaboration of a global plan of action against human trafficking, with engagement in this process of such critical stakeholders as civil society, mass media and private businesses.

The plan of action will mark an important follow-up to the Global Partnership against Slavery and Trafficking in Human Beings in the 21 Century – an initiative that Belarus took forward in 2005.

Footnote: the co-sponsorship of Libya was not reflected in the letter as it signed up for the Group at a latter stage

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