76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly Third Committee on trafficking in persons
Delivered by DPR Andre Lipand
November 12, New York
Estonia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.
We reaffirm our commitment to combatting trafficking in persons, including through the full implementation of our obligations under the relevant binding legal instruments. We have welcomed the deliberations on this important issue in international fora, including the United Nations.
We, as numerous other colleagues, have participated and contributed to these discussions with the objective of improving efforts to combat trafficking in persons. We therefore find it highly concerning that the main sponsor of the current resolution is currently undertaking the unacceptable tactic of instrumentalisation of migrants on a large scale for political purposes – a practice that amounts to human smuggling or trafficking in persons.
We strongly condemn these inhuman actions by the Belarusian authorities that endanger lives and well-being of countless people. The aim of these is the diversion of attention from the increasing human rights violations and brutal repressions by the Belarusian authorities against its own people.
We highlight the importance of preventing a humanitarian crisis and call on the Belarusian authorities to provide immediate and unhindered access for international organisations to deliver humanitarian assistance to people trapped in Belarus.
Thank you.