The US State Department, in its annual report on human trafficking, confirmed the exploitation of vulnerable groups by the Lukashenko regime.
The report states that Lukashenko's authorities have facilitated the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine to Belarus. It is worth noting that the NAM conducted a thorough investigation into this matter, and its findings, along with the necessary legal justification, were submitted to the International Criminal Court in two separate communications.
Furthermore, the report documents the existence of labor treatment centers in Belarus, where thousands of individuals, including political prisoners, are subjected to forced labor. The NAM has repeatedly urged international partners to impose sanctions on categories of goods whose analogues are produced in Belarusian prisons.
The report also confirms that the illegitimate authorities are facilitating illegal migration, thereby increasing migrants' vulnerability to human trafficking.
To address this, we propose implementing stricter measures against the regime, including harmonizing trade sanctions with those imposed on Russia, restricting the transit of sanctioned goods through Belarus, and, if necessary, completely halting all cargo traffic at EU borders.
The State Department also highlighted the ongoing repression of civil society and restrictions on the activities of organizations that provide support to victims of human trafficking.
"The regime established and led by Lukashenko commits numerous violations of international norms and standards. Its inclusion on the list of countries sponsoring human trafficking constitutes yet another crime perpetrated by Lukashenko and his inner circle," remarked Pavel Latushka.
In addition to Belarus, the list of countries where indicators of human trafficking are observed—including state-sponsored programs, forced labor practices across various sectors, sexual slavery in government camps, and the recruitment of child soldiers—includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Turkmenistan.