At a conference organised by the Institute of Anthropology of the Pontifical Gregorian University, experts have highlighted the urgent need for action against human trafficking on the 25th anniversary of the Palermo Protocol. Source: Vatican News.
The Palermo Protocol was stablished to prevent, suppress and punish the trafficking of persons, especially women and children but human trafficking remains widespread and is even expanding.
According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 50 million people are trafficked globally, generating more than $US236 billion ($A354bn) in criminal profit each year.
Marking the anniversary on December 10, the Sovereign Order of Malta, Praeveni Global, the Santa Marta Group, and the Institute of Anthropology of the Pontifical Gregorian University convened a high-level conference in Rome. Participants, who included Cardinal Fabio Baggio and Fr Hans Zollner, examined how to strengthen the implementation of existing legal standards and how to mobilise greater resources for concrete, on-the-ground action to eradicate this global crime.
Among the speakers was Mama Fatima Singateh, UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children. Speaking to Vatican Radio on the sidelines of the event, she underlined the importance of Church engagement at the grassroots level.
“The Church has a very important role in supporting communities… raising awareness on the vulnerability of children and the dangers that exist,” she said.
Through its presence in local settings, she added, the Church can contribute significantly “not only [to] empowerment, but also building capacity… providing financial but also moral support in order to tackle this problem”.
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Anti-trafficking experts urge strong action 25 years from Palermo Protocol (By Christine Seuss and Linda Bordoni, Vatican News)
