Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) -Ambikapur diocese in the central eastern State of Chhattisgarh is deeply committed to fighting human trafficking involving mainly poor Tribal people. This sad phenomenon abuses women and children mainly belonging to poor illiterate families lured by false promises and end up as victims of illegal work or sexual abuse in Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and other cities.
The phenomenon also involves many Catholic families as in the diocese of Ambikapur. The traffickers promise young girls a job in a rich Catholic family or in a Catholic institute or college, whereas most of them are forced into prostitution. Ambikapur works to save these people, an estimated 6,000-7,000. With the help of religious communities and committed lay Catholics the girls are identified and returned to their respective family.
Human trafficking is a scourge all over the world, an emerging question in the framework of protecting human rights in the third millennium. It is difficult to assess the number of people involved since it is all illegal activity, but it is estimated that at least 800-900,000 people are victims every year mostly women and children sold as sex slaves. The problem involves most countries, sex tourism is the main motivation for human trafficking which prospers because many governments tolerate it. According to the United Nations Organisation criminal networks make 7 to 10 billion dollars profit a year from human trafficking. The victims are generally the poorest and most vulnerable people in search of a better life for themselves and their families. (Agenzia Fides 12/6/2006 righe 26 parole 262)
