VATICAN CITY: Judges and prosecutors from around the world are pledging to crack down on human trafficking and help victims of modern-day slavery in the latest Vatican initiative to draw attention to the problem and rally resources to fight it.
According to the draft declaration obtained by The Associated Press, participants call human trafficking, forced labor and prostitution a “crime against humanity” that should be prosecuted as such.
The 10-point declaration pledges increased funding for international cooperation to boost prosecutions of traffickers and consumers of the sex trade, and pledges better support for victims, including issuing temporary residence permits. The draft, which may still be amended, says repatriation should never be the default judgment against victims.
Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff, has made the fight against human trafficking a priority of his pontificate as part of his emphasis on looking out for society’s most marginalized, including refugees and the poor.
In 2014, he and 25 religious leaders signed a declaration pledging to eradicate modern-day slavery by 2020. A year later, he invited mayors from around the world to a summit where they pledged to work to end trafficking and the involuntary repatriation of victims.
The 2016 edition focused on judges and prosecutors, with guests including the supreme court judges of Mexico and Argentina, Britain’s commissioner against modern slavery and the US ambassador.
According to the draft declaration obtained by The Associated Press, participants call human trafficking, forced labor and prostitution a “crime against humanity” that should be prosecuted as such.
The 10-point declaration pledges increased funding for international cooperation to boost prosecutions of traffickers and consumers of the sex trade, and pledges better support for victims, including issuing temporary residence permits. The draft, which may still be amended, says repatriation should never be the default judgment against victims.
Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff, has made the fight against human trafficking a priority of his pontificate as part of his emphasis on looking out for society’s most marginalized, including refugees and the poor.
In 2014, he and 25 religious leaders signed a declaration pledging to eradicate modern-day slavery by 2020. A year later, he invited mayors from around the world to a summit where they pledged to work to end trafficking and the involuntary repatriation of victims.
The 2016 edition focused on judges and prosecutors, with guests including the supreme court judges of Mexico and Argentina, Britain’s commissioner against modern slavery and the US ambassador.
