Vatican and Human Trafficking

Last week, experts on Human Trafficking from around the world gathered at the Vatican to discuss the growing problem of labor and sex trafficking of human beings. The program was at the direction of Pope Francis who has spoken openly about this problem of modern day slavery. I had waited on blogging about the important conference, which had multi-disciplinary experts from throughout the world, some affiliated with the work of the Church but most independent of it. I waited because I wanted to share with MOJ readers some of the press coverage. Sadly, there was limited coverage of the continued work of the Church in this area (however, it was covered by some Catholic outlets including here and here).

The conference entitled "Trafficking in Human Beings: Modern Slavery" was jointly hosted by Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the World Federation of the Catholic Medical Associations. It featured presentations from 18 experts as diverse as an inspector from Scotland Yard, an Assistant Attorney General from Texas, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Trafficking of Persons, Especially Women and Children, and the European Commission's Anti-Trafficking Coordinator.

As the program noted, The Second Vatican Council observes that "'slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children, and disgraceful working conditions where people are treated as instruments of gain rather than free and responsible persons' are 'infamies' which 'poison human society, debase their perpetrators' and constitute 'a supreme dishonour to the creator'." If the level of speakers in any indication, it does appear that the Holy See is continuing its leadership on this issue and Pope Francis is looking to build on this conference. Although the press coverage was limited, the event did produce a Joint Statement by all participants calling on all relevant actors to take specific measures. It included calling on the Holy See to ratify both the Palermo Protocol as well as the Council of Europe's Convention of Human Trafficking. In addition to calling upon international actors to engage in specific measures, the Statement also listed measures that can be taken by the faithful and individual parishes.

Pope Francis has been outspoken on human trafficking, calling it "despicable" and "a disgrace for our societies which describe themselves as civilized." These are strong words and ones that are being followed up by action. One headline of the coverage read "Pope Wants to Step Up Fight Against Modern Slavery." From the looks of this conference and the actions recommended, this is an accurate description. A major obstacle to fighting human trafficking has been the division between nations and the limited reach of each nation state. Unlike many nation states, the Holy See stands uniquely positioned to mobilize people throughout the globe and this work is a positive step in combatting the deplorable conditions of millions of victims throughout the world.