Pope Francis is joining 12 other world faith leaders in a ground-breaking initiative to end human trafficking by 2020.
The Pope, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew from Greece and senior representatives of the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist faiths, will gather at the Vatican to sign a Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders this morning.
The declaration underlined that modern slavery in terms of human trafficking, forced labour, prostitution and organ trafficking is a crime against humanity, and must be recognised as such by everyone and by all nations.
The declaration on the World Day for Abolition of Slavery was organised by the Global Freedom Network, which was launched at the Vatican in March.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, is this week hosting a conference in London on sex trafficking. The meeting of the Santa Marta group, named after the guest house in Rome where Pope Francis lives, includes Church leaders and senior police; it will be attended by Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Nigeria, Home Secretary Theresa May and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.
Last week the Archdiocese of Westminster announced the opening of Caritas Bakhita House in west London, a “triage” centre for the emergency placement of women escaping human trafficking. The house will provide accommodation for up to 14 women over the age of 17, offering both them and non-residents emergency support, psychosexual therapy, legal and financial assistance and mentoring and help with accessing accommodation.
Retired Detective Inspector Kevin Hyland, a Catholic, was appointed Britain’s first anti-slavery commissioner by the Home Secretary last month.
Source and Original Content by Catholic Herald