Human Trafficking Crisis In Belarus: Victims Count

Human trafficking is a significant issue in Belarus, with the country acting as a source, destination, and transit location for those subjected to this form of modern slavery. While the exact number of victims is challenging to pinpoint, reports and investigations offer a glimpse into the scope of this problem. In 2022, the Government of Belarus identified 244 confirmed trafficking victims, a number that decreased to 210 in 2023. However, it's important to recognize that these figures may not capture the full extent of the issue due to underreporting and the challenges of identifying victims.

The Government of Belarus does not meet minimum standards for eliminating trafficking

The Government of Belarus does not meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. Despite the lack of significant efforts, the government has taken some steps to address trafficking, including conducting trafficking-related investigations and prosecutions, and identifying and referring more victims to services. However, the government's anti-trafficking efforts are inadequate and fall short of international standards in several key areas.

Firstly, the government has failed to demonstrate a commitment to preventing trafficking. While the government has continued to operate a hotline for safe travel abroad and participated in multilateral anti-trafficking activities, it has not conducted any public awareness campaigns or provided adequate funding or support to NGOs working on trafficking prevention. The government has also failed to address labor trafficking adequately, with inadequate labor inspections and a lack of investigations into illegal recruitment practices.

Secondly, the government's response to trafficking is difficult to gauge due to a lack of transparency and independent reporting. The closed nature of the government, sparse independent media, and fear of government retaliation for criticism have made it challenging to assess the effectiveness of anti-trafficking measures. This lack of transparency hinders the ability to hold the government accountable and identify areas for improvement.

Thirdly, the government has not provided adequate protection services to trafficking victims. While the government has identified and referred more victims to services, the quality and accessibility of these services remain concerning. The government's victim assistance services suffer from bureaucratic requirements, delays, and inconsistent quality, leading many victims to seek assistance from NGOs or private shelters. The government has also failed to provide direct financial support to NGOs providing vital support to victims.

Finally, the government has not demonstrated sufficient efforts to prosecute and convict traffickers. While the government has conducted investigations and prosecutions, it has not reported any convictions under its trafficking statute. Additionally, there are concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the potential for government complicity in trafficking offenses, as there have been no reported investigations or prosecutions of government employees complicit in trafficking crimes.

Overall, while the Government of Belarus has taken some steps to address trafficking, its efforts fall short of meeting the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking. Increased transparency, improved protection services, and more robust prosecution and conviction of traffickers are needed to meet these international standards effectively.

The Government of Belarus does not make significant efforts to eliminate trafficking

The Government of Belarus has been criticized for its lack of transparency and independent reporting on trafficking issues, making it difficult to fully assess the effectiveness of its efforts. The political climate of intimidation also hinders authentic partnerships with victims and anti-trafficking organizations. While the government has taken some positive steps, such as sustaining law enforcement efforts and maintaining minimal protection efforts, it has also decreased the number of trafficking-related investigations and prosecutions. The government's response to trafficking is further complicated by its broader repression of civil society and independent pro-democracy activism.

The Government of Belarus has been placed in Tier 3 by the U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, indicating that it does not meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. This is a downgrade from its previous Tier 2 Watch List status. The government's anti-trafficking efforts have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with some government agencies transitioning employees to remote work and officials working in isolation. However, the decrease in investigations and prosecutions cannot be solely attributed to the pandemic.

The Government of Belarus has demonstrated a pattern of forced labor in "labor therapy centers," where thousands of individuals with drug or alcohol addiction, political prisoners, and those deemed to lead an "asocial lifestyle" are subjected to forced labor. The government has also been accused of facilitating the transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus, putting them at high risk of trafficking. Additionally, the government has orchestrated a migration crisis along its borders, increasing the vulnerability of migrants to trafficking by failing to screen them for trafficking indicators and, in some cases, forcing them to attempt irregular border crossings.

The Government of Belarus has shown minimal progress in protecting victims of trafficking, with a decrease in the number of identified victims and a lack of funding for specialized victim assistance programs. While the government offers a range of victim services, they are often underutilized due to bureaucratic requirements, delays, and inconsistent quality. The government has also failed to provide direct financial support to NGOs providing the majority of victim assistance. The government's efforts to prevent trafficking are also minimal, with limited funding for awareness campaigns and a lack of reporting on investigations or charges against companies related to illegal recruitment.

The Government of Belarus has been placed in Tier 3 by the US State Department's Office

Belarus is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor. The majority of identified Belarusian victims are females forced into prostitution abroad, including in Russia, Germany, Latvia, other European countries, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, and the UAE. There are also reports of Belarusian men, women, and children being subjected to forced begging and forced labor in the construction industry and other sectors in Russia. The Belarusian government's response to trafficking is difficult to gauge due to the closed nature of the government, sparse independent reporting, and fear of government retaliation.

The Government of Belarus has demonstrated minimal progress in protecting victims of trafficking and has failed to provide funding for specialized victim assistance programs. There has also been a decrease in trafficking-related investigations, and the government has not reported investigating, prosecuting, or convicting any traffickers under its trafficking statute. The government has also been criticized for its role in facilitating the transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus, who are highly vulnerable to trafficking.

The US State Department has made several prioritized recommendations for the Government of Belarus to improve its efforts to combat human trafficking, including increasing resources devoted to victim assistance and protection, vigorously investigating and prosecuting cases of forced labor and sex trafficking, and improving labor inspection and anti-trafficking training for officials.

The Government of Belarus has been criticised for its repression of civil society and independent, pro-democracy activism

The regime's crackdown has not only targeted protestors but also their relatives, journalists, and opposition activists, with some groups being forced into exile. The government has also taken steps to limit the activities of civil society organisations and has failed to provide funding or support to NGOs. This includes organisations providing support to victims of human trafficking.

The Belarusian government has been accused of orchestrating a migration crisis along its borders with Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, facilitating the entry of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers. This has put these migrants at increased risk of human trafficking, as Belarusian authorities have failed to adequately screen them for trafficking indicators.

The government has also been criticised for its treatment of political prisoners, with reports of forced labour and inhumane conditions. There are also concerns about the independence of the judiciary, with trials often being conducted behind closed doors and trial outcomes predetermined.

The regime has further clamped down on dissent by restricting online freedom of expression and censoring independent media. This has made it difficult for Belarusians to access unbiased information, with state-controlled media becoming a tool for propaganda.

The European Parliament has expressed solidarity with the people of Belarus and called for continued support for the democratic opposition and civil society. The EU has also imposed sanctions on Belarus and continues to call for the immediate release of political prisoners.

The future of Belarus remains uncertain, with the country facing increasing isolation from the West and deepening integration with Russia. The democratic future of the country is closely tied to the outcome of the war in Ukraine and the fate of the Lukashenko regime.

The Government of Belarus has been accused of facilitating the transfer of Ukrainian children to the country, making them vulnerable to trafficking

The United States Department of State's 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report: Belarus also acknowledges that Belarusian authorities facilitated the transfer of Ukrainian children to the country. The report states that "all Ukrainian children transferred to Belarus were highly vulnerable to trafficking." This vulnerability is exacerbated by the Belarusian government's inadequate efforts to prevent trafficking and protect victims. The report further mentions that the government did not report screening Ukrainian refugees for trafficking indicators.

The allegations against Belarus are particularly concerning given the country's role as a source, destination, and transit point for human trafficking. According to the Ministry of Interior, single, unemployed Belarusian females between the ages of 16 and 30 are most at risk of being trafficked, often for forced prostitution or labour. While the Belarusian government has taken some steps to address trafficking, such as conducting investigations and prosecutions, it does not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking and has been placed in Tier 3 by the U.S. State Department.

The transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus has also been deemed illegal and in violation of international law, specifically the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In response to these allegations, Ukraine has launched criminal proceedings and is investigating the role of Belarus in the forced transportation of over 19,000 children from occupied regions. The ICC has also issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ombudsman for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for war crimes related to the relocation of Ukrainian children.

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