{"id":210399,"date":"2026-11-04T11:52:12","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T08:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/210399\/"},"modified":"2026-11-04T11:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T08:52:14","slug":"council-of-europe-experts-point-to-flaws-in-belarus-system-to-combat-human-trafficking","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/210399\/","title":{"rendered":"Council of Europe experts point to flaws in Belarus\u2019 system to combat human trafficking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November <\/strong>4<\/strong>, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Council of Europe experts pointed out serious shortcomings in Belarus\u2019 efforts to fight human trafficking in an evaluation report released on November 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus identified 1,161 victims of trafficking in human beings in 2022-25, including 685 children (59 percent). Most of them (96.6 percent) were exposed to sexual exploitation, with 86 percent exploited in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, courts examined only one trafficking-related case in 2022-24. Two victims were awarded damages, but it is unclear whether they received the compensation. Not a single victim was provided free legal aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group is concerned that victims lack access to compensation and face difficulties bringing perpetrators to justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group questioned the absence of identified victims amongst migrants and asylum seekers despite the fact that tens of thousands of them have arrived in Belarus since 2021 and attempted to cross the border with Poland, Lithuania or Latvia. This suggests that there is lack of proactive screening for human trafficking among foreign nationals, it said. Meanwhile, a Lithuanian NGO identified among migrants about 150 victims who were subjected to exploitation in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report points out that in 2025 Belarus closed down its only specialized rehabilitation center for victims of human trafficking. It notes that the system of assistance to victims has been weakened by NGO closures after the 2020 presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experts recommend that Belarus improve the identification of victims, ensure their access to legal assistance and compensation, protect labor migrants and adopt a national plan to fight human trafficking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report \u201cAccess to Justice and Effective Remedies for Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings\u201d covers the period from 2022 to June 26, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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