Vatican Conference on Trafficking in Human Beings

“Human trafficking is the most extensive form of slavery in this 21st century!” (Pope Francis, Easter Message 2013)

At the request of Pope Francis,  the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and of the Social Sciences, together with FIAMC (World Federation of the Catholic Medical Associations) held a workshop on Trafficking in Human Beings 2-3 November 2013. The workshop was attended by experts from around the world including  Australian lawyer and leading global expert on the international law on human trafficking, Anne Gallagher.

The conference issued a statement based on suggestions presented by the participants which states “despite the efforts of many, trafficking in human beings – the most extensive form of slavery in our twenty-first century – is a plague on a vast scale in many countries across the world. Victims are hidden away in private homes, in illegal establishments, in factories, on farms, behind closed doors, in families, houses and other places in the cities, villages and slums of the world’s richest and poorest nations. This situation is not improving but, on the contrary, is probably deteriorating.”   The statement includes a list of 40 proposals for media, religious institutions, civil organizations and business sectors to work together in order to combat human trafficking.

Download a copy of the Vatican Statement on Trafficking in Human Beings here.