17 May, 2013 - The Holy See has unequivocally condemned “the abhorrent and immoral
practice of trafficking in human beings,” urging concrete actions from the international
community to free the victims from “this repugnant form of contemporary slavery” and
help rebuild their lives. The point was made this week by Indian Archbishop Francis
Chullikatt, Apostolic Nuncio and Holy See's Permanent Observer at the United Nations
in New York. Addressing a high-level meeting on the Global Plan of Action to Combat
Trafficking in Persons, the archbishop noted that very often migration is a necessity
rather than a free choice, and the sense of desperation gives human traffickers the
opportunity to pry on migrants, thus making human trafficking one of the fastest growing
criminal activities in today’s world. Describing trafficking in persons as a “shameful
crime against human dignity and a grave violation of fundamental human rights,” the
Holy See’s representative urged for effective juridical instruments against this “abominable
trade in human beings, to prosecute its profiteers, and to assist the rehabilitation
and reintegration of its victims.” To this end, the creation of the United Nations
Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
by the Global Plan of Action provides a tangible means for ensuring support for those
who suffer the dehumanizing impact of being trafficked. “While political, social
and legal protections are indispensable to combating the scourge of human trafficking,”
Archbishop Chullikatt said they “must also work to address those societal factors
which foster the environment that makes human trafficking possible.” One such overriding
factor he said was the growing trend of regarding human life as a commodity, evident
especially in the women and girls who are trafficked each year for the sole purpose
of making money from the sale of their bodies. He called for changing lifestyles and
models of behaviour, particularly with regard to the image of women, which, he said,
has led to the a veritable industry of sexual exploitation. Trafficking in women
for the purpose of sexual exploitation accounts for 58 per cent of all cases reported
globally and demonstrates how increased demand fuels this market for human slavery
and tolerates its immense human costs. It is a grim reminder that prostitution and
consumers of so-called “sexual services” not only contribute to the trafficking of
women and girls but also disrespect their human dignity. Another trend that reduces
human dignity to a commodity is the demand more for less without due regard for the
rights of workers. Forced labour he said accounts for more than a quarter of victims
of trafficking. Archbishop Chullikatt pointed out that at the root of human trafficking
was extreme poverty which victimizes the poor and the defenceless. Hence, he said,
the fight against human trafficking entails addressing poverty eradication and lack
of equal economic opportunity.