Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vienna (Agenzia Fides) - “The Holy See appreciates the efforts undertaken at various levels to combat human trafficking, which is a multidimensional problem, and one of the most shameful phenomena of our era... [it] is a dreadful offence against human dignity, which the social doctrine of the Catholic Church regards as the foundation of human rights. The Holy See encourages all kinds of just initiatives aimed at eradicating this immoral and criminal phenomenon and at promoting the welfare of the victims.” This is what has been affirmed by Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, in his speech during the Vienna Forum to Fight Human Trafficking, which took place February 13-15. The Forum was sponsored by the UN GIFT (Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking), which claims that human trafficking takes on many forms and that what is needed is a united and coordinated effort to stop it. The initiative has brought together 1200 experts, legislative officers, police personnel, industries, and representatives from non-profit organisations, as well as victims of trafficking, all from over 116 countries.
About 2.5 million people in the world are victims of human trafficking, involving persons from 127 nations worldwide, sent to 137 countries. They are principally used for trafficking of organs, forced labour, prostitution, as well as, for forced adoptions or marriages. The phenomena presents itself under various forms, frequently linked to clandestine immigration, paedophilia, and child exploitation. This horrific phenomena involves an illegal business whose estimated value is about 32 million dollars.
The Forum had three objectives: Vulnerability: why does human trafficking happen (examine the factors - e.g. poverty, violence, racism, religion, etc.); Impact: human and social consequences of human trafficking (e.g. violence, AIDS, psychological and emotional trauma, etc.); Action: innovative approaches to solving complex problems.
The Holy See has always been aware of the gravity of this problem: in 1970, Pope Paul VI began what is today the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, with the victims of this phenomena in mind, as well, considering them “modern-day’s slaves.” Various Episcopal Conferences (e.g. Nigeria, Ireland, and Spain), following the Pontifical Council’s initiative, have published pastoral letters enumerating these problems, in relation to the local situations. In the countries that have suffered most due to prolonged conflicts (D.R. Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia), the Catholic Church has taken responsibility for the ex-children soldiers that run the risk of being sold, once they have left the army. There are many initiatives from among religious congregations to assure not only their social and economic integration, but also their healing and return to their families and communities.
“We have to admit that easy solutions do not exist. Addressing these particular human rights’ abuses requires a coherent and integral approach. This should take into account not only the best interests of the victim, but also the just punishment of those who benefit from it, and the introduction of preventive measures such as, on the one hand, awareness and consciousness raising and, on the other, addressing the root causes of the phenomenon, among which the macroeconomic situation certainly should not be overlooked.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 15/2/2008; righe 44, parole 514)
