Bishops commit to battle against Human Trafficking
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines has launched a new forum to combat trafficking in human beings in the country. In each diocese there will be an office to denounce individual cases. Various religious associations collaborate on the initiative. Pope Francis denounces: "An aberrant plague"
Manila (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (Cbcp) has launched a new forum to combat trafficking in human beings in the country. Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos of the Diocese of Balanga and president of the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Travelers (Ecmi) inaugurated on 27 July the new network "Catholic Church Against Trafficking in Human Beings" (Cnaht).
About 100 people participated in the program. "Cnaht is committed to working for human dignity for and with those who have become victims of trafficking in human beings," said Msgr. Cruz Santos. Cnaht is a kind of joint venture between Ecmi, the Youth Commission, the Office for Women, the Commission for Social Action, Justice and Peace, the Association of Religious Superiors of the Philippines, Talitha Kum, an organization of Catholic women Established by the International Union of Superiors General in 2009, in collaboration with other civil society groups that help to reduce the rapid spread of human trafficking.
"Cnaht will be the bishop-led national body, which will have a representation in every diocese and, if possible, in every parish to curb the threat of trafficking in human beings," explained Marial Lea P. Dasigan to AsiaNews, from the Youth office of the episcopal conference among the promoters of the initiative.
From June 2016 to February 2017, 341 cases of trafficking in people and forced labor were reported, according to government sources. But in reality there are many more. Yesterday, to mark the day dedicated to the fight against the trafficking of men and women, Pope Francis intervened describing it as "an aberrant plague" and "a form of modern slavery."
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