Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Verona (Agencia Fides) - The issue of trafficking among women and other human persons is a complex matter, one that cannot be responded to in a partial or fragmentary manner. An agreement needs to be reached on a continental level, one which counts on the participation and just actions of the countries involved as origin, in transit, and destination of these people. There should be organization among the countries, intervening in an effort to protect would-be victims and end this crime. They should see to a more advanced judicial process for criminals, who should be hunted down in the countries of origin. This was what was asked in a manifesto issued at the close of the European Conference “Freeing Women from Trafficking,” and sent to the European Parliament, governments, social and Church institutions. The Conference was organized by the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO) and was held in Verona (Italy) September 3-7.
The WUCWO was founded in 1910, with the mission of promoting the participation of women in the life of the Catholic Church, and for fostering the growth of all women in society. Not only is it an international Catholic organization, but it also has “general” Consultative status at the United Nations, with ECOSOC, UNESCO, FAO, ILO and HRC, and is present at the Council of Europe. It is formed by 100 organizations from all over the world, with a total of 5 million women.
The Verona Conference has been an occasion for addressing this issue that, in Europe, should be considered of utmost importance: trafficking of women. It is a disgraceful phenomenon that has spread worldwide and now affects between 700,000 and 2 million people in the world per year. It is a plight that is increasingly linked to other crimes, such as drug trafficking and other forms of trafficking in human persons. It is a vicious circle where many women end up, as a result of poverty, lack of resources, or the search for a better life.
The five days in Verona have allowed for reflection on this issue and for a look at what kind of action is taking place in Europe. It has allowed for a greater understanding of the trafficking situation and the European legislation in this regards; a look at the causes for trafficking in the countries of origin, en-route, and destination; what the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church has to say in reference to serving the human person; and the presence of and challenges facing the UMOFC in Europe, the site of the Declaration on Human Rights. In this regards, the most important moment of the Conference was a round-table discussion held on the last day, featuring the presentation of a manifesto to be sent to the European Parliament, governments, and social and Church institutions. Maria Giovanna Ruggeri, Vice-President of the UMOFC for Europe, made it clear in her commentary at the discussion that Europe is the starting point for this mission. “When we say that Europe is multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious, we should take up our calling right there, where the Lord calls us to live it.” The participants in the Conference also asked the European Parliament to make a special effort in seeing that girls receive the proper formation so as to become mature women; the possibility for all women to have basic rights and be treated as human persons, with respect and freedom from any kind of male domination; and a commitment on the part of all European countries, and those wishing to enter the European Union, to work to end trafficking of human persons. (PC) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2008)
