African Women Judges:
'post-colonial poverty at the roots of trafficking in Africa'
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| Pope Francis has denounced human trafficking calling it a crime against humanity.- AFP |
A 2-day "Summit of African Women Judges on Human
Trafficking and Organized Crime" promoted by the Pontifical Academy of
Sciences focuses on trafficking and modern slavery and the specific problems of
the African continent.
By Linda Bordoni
The some fifty women gathered at the Vatican’s Pontifical
Academy of Sciences to share problems, knowledge, experience and best practices
are hopeful their voices will be heard.
The “Summit of African Women Judges on Human Trafficking
and Organized Crime” is a continuation of a similar 2017 event with a
particular focus on the specific problems of the African continent, because,
the judges point out, a high percentage of victims of trafficking comes from
Africa.
Pope Francis is a tireless advocate against the
phenomenon of trafficking and modern slavery, describing it as a crime against
humanity and a result of the globalization of indifference.
Nigerian Judges Cecilia Olatoregun and Anwuri
Chikere spoke to Linda Bordoni about the significance of the event and
of their appeal to world leaders to set Africa free from post-colonial
exploitation.
Judge Olatoregun, of the Nigerian Federal High Court,
expressed her belief that the Summit has provided an important occasion for
African judges to come together “because we are involved in adjudication on
human trafficking and modern slavery issues”.
She noted it is prevalently an African reality where people
are trafficked to Europe and to the Americas. Her own country, Nigeria, she
said, is the base for many criminal rings who trade in people for prostitution
and other crimes.
Summit coming at an appropriate time
“This summit is coming at a very appropriate time for
our leaders and lawmakers all over Africa (…) to think more deeply about
solutions for the trafficking of persons in various sections of the criminal
jurisdiction” she said.
Judge Olatoregun mentioned the scourges of prostitution,
forced labour, harvesting organs, child labour, recruitment of child soldiers
and said: “it’s a good time to talk about all this”.
“Here we are talking about what happens in different
countries, we are comparing notes and solutions, sharing solutions and aiming
for joint action” she said.
Judge Chikere, of the Federal High Court in Abuja, noted
that Summit participants agreed that “our colonial masters have freed us
politically, but they have not freed us economically”.
“We are gathered here, she said, to share ideas on how to
free ourselves economically so that we can eradicate the problems that we have”
she said.
She pointed out that it is history that Africans used to be
sold as slaves, but she said:” it still continues! What is human trafficking?
Slavery!”
Judge Chikere said that abberrations like the harvesting of
human organs can only happen because of the economic problems African states
have: “they are now selling their fellow human beings to meet their economic
demands”.
The price of colonialism
She said that only on the surface have world powers freed
African nations from colonialism; in reality, she explained, they are still
controlling us and making it impossible for us to be economically self-sufficient.
“They control and they support our leaders in the way they
behave, but we, the citizens, are the ones who are worse for it!” she said.
Pope Francis
Judge Chikere agrees with Pope Francis’ definition of human
trafficking as a “wound in the side of humanity” and says it is especially true
in Africa.
“Most of the participants here are from African countries”
she noted and said they have asked Bishop Marcelo Sorondo, Chancellor of the
Pontifical Academy of Sciences to speak to the Pope and ask him to speak to
African leaders.
“They must free Africans economically, because when
you are economically stable, nobody can push you around. If you have money in
your pocket and you can buy your needs, you will not think of evil ways of
making money” she said.
She concluded expressing hope for the future: “we will pray
to God that we will achieve our aim of coming here!”.
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