Participants of the COMECE-SMG event against human trafficking held at the European Parliament. (Photo: COMECE)
COMECE and the Santa Marta Group held a conference at the European Parliament on Wednesday, 14 February 2024, highlighting the positive contribution that Churches and faith-based organisation give to the fight against human trafficking, protecting victims and making perpetrators accountable. COMECE: “Human trafficking is not an inevitable crime. The long-term commitment of all social, economic, religious, cultural and political actors can lead to winning this battle!”
Titled “The Role of Churches and faith-based organisations in fighting trafficking in Human Beings”, the conference served as a platform to underscore the role of Churches and faith-based organisations in combatting human trafficking. With a focus on Catholic and ecumenical initiatives, participants delved into the multifaceted aspects of this heinous crime, sharing experiences and strategies for addressing human trafficking both locally and globally.
Trafficking in human beings is a highly profitable crime, entailing an invisibility that makes it difficult for the perpetrators to be prosecuted and held accountable. According to Kevin Hyland, Strategic Director of the Santa Marta Group: “it is crucial to remove financial incentives that make tremendous amounts of tainted money from human slavery flow into the pockets of criminal gangs”.
Ivonne van de Kar, Co-President of Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation (RENATE) encouraged ordinary citizens and business companies to be aware of human trafficking, fighting for supply chains that are free of labour exploitation.
“While legal regulations and frameworks are in place, their implementation is ineffective” stated Rev. William Kenney CP, Auxiliary Bishop Em. of Birmingham and member of the Santa Marta Group. Bishop Kenney also emphasised the ecumenical and interreligious dimension of the fight against human trafficking.
Participants of the COMECE-SMG event against human trafficking held at the European Parliament. (Photo: COMECE)
During the debate, the link between child pornography and human trafficking was also pointed out, as the importance of establishing alliances and platforms to promote development aid and cooperation to tackle this phenomenon. Reference was made to combatting organ harvesting and surrogacy and to the need of supporting civil society and Churches to efficiently run projects related to the prevention and restoration of the victims’ dignity.
The event was organised by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Santa Marta Group, an anti-trafficking charity launched in 2014 to act as a catalyst for law enforcement, civil society and the Church to work together to combat this global crime. The event was hosted at the European Parliament, in Brussels, by MEP Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (EPP – Spain).
COMECE is engaged in advocating with the institutions of the European Union for policies that address the phenomenon of human trafficking, support the victims and hold perpetrators accountable. In this context, we invite you to read our latest contribution on the topic.
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Mgr. Willian Kenney [Speech – EN]
Fr. Patrick Gillard [Speech – EN]
Kevin Hyland [Speech – Presentation EN]
RENATE [Presentation – EN]
Speech 14022024 - Mgr. William Kenney on human trafficking [EN]- Speech 14022024 - Fr. Patrick Gillard on human trafficking [EN]
- Speech 14022024 - Kevin Hyland on human trafficking [EN]
- Presentation 14022024 - RENATE in trafficking in human beings [EN]
- Presentation 14022024 - Kevin Hyland on human trafficking [EN]