Combating Human Trafficking

INTRODUCTION

The cooperation between women religious and London’s Metropolitan Police to combat human trafficking has been of enormous importance and has produced great results. The hope is, therefore, that this experience can be repeated in other countries as well. This is according to the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols, who chaired the international conference promoted by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, entitled “Combating Human Trafficking: Church and Law Enforcement in Partnership.”

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The two-day conference, which was held in the Academy of Sciences Building in the Vatican, began with a welcoming speech by Vatican Gendarmerie Chief, Domenico Giani. Numerous guests attending, included police chiefs from 22 countries, plus Interpol and Europol chiefs. Francis has condemned human trafficking, a phenomenon involving almost two-and-a-half million victims, on more than one occasion. According to estimates provided by the International Labor Organisation, the phenomenon adds 32 billion dollars to the coffers of criminal organisations each year.

 The conference ended with a papal audience to present the framework of cooperation between the Vatican and police forces against human trafficking. There were speeches from the Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan and Britain’s Interior Minister, Theresa May, who is in charge of immigration and security. Some trafficking victims and nuns who are assisting them also attended the conference.

 As part of its efforts to combat human trafficking, the Vatican recently launched a new ecumenical and interdenominational network called “The Global Freedom Network.” Cardinal Nichols said that these initiatives enhance the real focus of this conference, which is to make a practical difference on the ground, in a number of countries, with the help of the Church’s resources.

  In his own opening speech, Nigerian Cardinal John Onaiyekan, remarked: “The Gospel of God’s mercy, freedom and love, preached by the Church, is rejected in practice, with human beings being treated as slaves. The Church has a responsibility on all levels,” he added. “When we see young boys and girls being sold for money, believing that money will lead to a good life, we need to start teaching them about what real freedom is about, what true happiness is about and what the true meaning of life is.”

 As far as the  traffickers, the real criminals, are concerned, Cardinal Onaiyekan said that, “when there is an opportunity to speak to them, efforts are made to explain to them that this is not the way to treat human beings. But despite all that we are able to do, our work has its limits. This is where the civil authorities and police forces come in.”  

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