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INTENTION : |
That human trafficking, the modern form of slavery, may be eradicated.
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Pope Francis has said that human trade is a "vile activity, a disgrace to our societies that claim to be civilized. Exploiters and clients at all levels should make a serious examination of conscience both in the first person and before God." For this reason, he added, "Today the Church is renewing her urgent appeal that the dignity and centrality of every individual always be safeguarded, with respect for fundamental rights." (Address to participants at the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, 24 May 2013) .
Why is the Pope so concerned about the issue of human trafficking? Why has he used such strong expressions on numerous occasions, calling it "a crime against humanity" and "a social plague of our times", in addition to the eloquent appeals we read in this section of our reflections?
There is no lack of reasons. The figures of this modern slavery are bloodcurdling -:
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According to the United States Department of State annual report on human trafficking ("Trafficking in persons report" TIP, 2012), there are 20.9 million adults and children in the world who are subject to forced labour or prostitution.
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Human trafficking is worth around 32 billion dollars a year, the same amount generated by weapons smuggling.
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Ninety-eight percent of the victims of the illegal sex trade are women and young girls.
What exactly is human trafficking?
Trafficking in persons is "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or giving or receiving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim, for the purpose of exploitation" (United Nations, Palermo Convention).
There are three kinds of human trafficking:
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For sexual exploitation (79 percent)
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For forced labour (18 percent)
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For organ transplants (3 percent)
Out of a thousand stories we will quote one -:
Her name is Krina. She is 24 years old and has a lot of dreams, although her face is hardened by suffering. She is Rumanian, from a family living at the margins. She barely attended school as she needed to work. She was married off at the age of 14 and the wedding was a failure. Later, with another partner, she experienced the hell of ill treatment and got used to being harassed and humiliated. What could she expect from life? One day, when she was still a minor, she was approached by a man who offered her work abroad. She accepted to get away. For over five years she was bought and sold by traders in women. Her body still bears the marks of her attempts to escape and to commit suicide.
The Pope calls upon us to commit to the struggle to eradicate this evil and help to restore the dignity of those who have been violently deprived of their right to happiness.
What can we do to counteract human trafficking? Three things we can do are:
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Help to raise awareness, educate society and talk about the issue, especially to healthcare personnel and the police
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Shelter, protect and assist the victims, if the occasion arises
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Advocacy: influence our society to change and to enforce existing laws
The Apostleship of Prayer commits to working together with the Pope in harmony with this great concern in his heart.
Claudio Barriga, SJ
Former AP / EYM Director General Delegate in Rome
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