Catholic Commission for Social Justice
“WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO?”, cried my friend in frustration after reading about the 19 young Venezuelan women, between 15 and 19 years old, who were rescued following police operations in West Trinidad. The media reported that police have cracked a major drug and prostitution ring.
Pope Francis has stated that: “Human trafficking is an aberrant plague and a modern form of slavery.” Sadly, this multibillion-dollar global plague shows no signs of slowing down.
Tomorrow, July 30, the world will observe World Day against Trafficking in Persons. Around the world, human traffickers continue to exploit people for profit, and to violate their human rights.
Pope Francis rightly says that human trafficking is “an open wound on the body of humanity…a crime against humanity and a form of slavery which is unfortunately increasingly widespread; it involves every country, even the most developed, and touches the most vulnerable people in society: women and young girls, children, the disabled, the most poor [sic], whoever comes from situations of familial or social disintegration. We need a common responsibility and a stronger political will to succeed on this front” (February 12, 2018).
“…Human trafficking and slavery radically strips a person of … fundamental dignity, reducing them to the status of a commodity. It is an evil crying out to heaven. That there are over 20 million people callously held in modern slavery in our world today is a mark of deep shame on the face of our human family that no words alone can remove.” (Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, UK, June 29, 2017)
Today, July 30, is ‘World Day against Trafficking in Persons’. The UN states: “Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights… it exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes…The International Labour Organization estimates that 21 million people are victims of forced labour globally. This estimate also includes victims of human trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation. While it is not known how many of these victims were trafficked, the estimate implies that currently, there are millions of trafficking in persons victims in the world.
If you too are one among them, which has given an extremely effective online cialis mastercard method to treat the problem of premature ejaculation. Online stores offer safe and secure online transaction, variety of branded medicines, transparent policy, 24*7 online customer support, competitive prices, numerous discounts, free home delivery, and full viagra 25mg online confidentiality of the patients, for the successful treatment of Erectile dysfunction. These naturally occurring polyphenols are shown to prevent, reverse or retard UV radiation-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, cost of cialis DNA damage and suppression of immune responses. Avoid alcohol and smoking when you are using this medicine Do not have these pills, if you are allergic to sildenafil citrate buy generic cialis icks.org should not be using this medicine.
“Every time I hear the crack of a whip, my blood runs cold. I remember on the slave ship, how they brutalised my very soul. (Nesta Marley’s song: Slave Driver)
In 2007, the UN declared March 25 (annually) as the “International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade”. We must never forget those who endured immense suffering during what Ban Ki Moon, UN General Secretary, said, is the “longest, most widespread tragedies in human history. By studying slavery, we help to guard against humanity’s most vile impulses. By examining the prevailing assumptions and beliefs that allowed the practice to flourish, we raise awareness about the continued dangers of racism and hatred.”