OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Catholics in Australia committed to stopping trafficking of women and children

Wednesday, 23 November 2005

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Sydney (Fides Service) - The Catholic Church has a network of social institutes, organisations and associations which can help fight the scourge of human trafficking and to assist the victims of this crime. The Church is committed in this field because the victims are the most vulnerable of people women and children reduced to slaves and goods deprived of dignity and rights. This emerged during a recent seminar organised by the Commission for Migrants of the Catholic Church in Australia. Among those present Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao President of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples.
It emerged that many women who try to enter Australia illegally from Asian countries become victims of prostitution rackets. In this sector Caritas Australia is very active to assist the victims.
Participants agreed that dioceses all over Australia should intensify efforts through delegates and pastoral workers to co-ordinate interventions to stop the phenomenon which has been defined a crime against humanity and new slavery.
Catholics will act on the level of prevention and rehabilitation studying certain cases and operating above all in the field of formation.
Human trafficking is present all over the world and concerns everyone. The Catholic Church in Australia is not indifferent to the problem. “Human trafficking exists on all five continents: with its charity organisations the Church is in front line to help the victims and denounce the traffickers” participants said.
Human trafficking mainly serves to feed the ills of prostitution of women and children and child labour. To eliminate it there must be a general effort on the part of police, judiciary, unions, church movements, NGOs and the Church in Australia is committed to offering victims assistance both material and spiritual.
Catholic efforts to fight human trafficking is the subject of a documentary Dawn to be shown soon on national television in Australia. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2005 righe 29 parole 299)