VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis I, has pledged to develop partnership between the Church and civil society to bring to justice those responsible for crimes of human trafficking and alleviate the suffering of the victims.
This is contained in a communique issued on Thursday at the end of the 2nd International Conference on “Combating Human Trafficking: Church and Law Enforcement in Partnership’’ in Vatican’s Casina Pio IV.
“I exhort the international community to adopt an even more unanimous and effective strategy against human trafficking.
“So that in every part of the world, men and women may no longer be used as a means to an end, and that their inviolable dignity may always be respected.
“As senior law enforcement officials within the international community, we commit to eradicate the scourge of this serious criminal activity, which abuses vulnerable people.
“ This conference is part of a process where we work together on the international stage to develop strategies in prevention, pastoral care and re-integration, placing the victim at the centre of all we do,’’ Pope said.
He called the scourge “an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the body of Christ and a crime against humanity.’’ (PANA/NAN)
