Card Nichols: Church a global
network for good against trafficking
 |
| Cardinal Vincent Nichols |
Cardinal Vincent Nichols talks to Vatican News about themes
being discussed at an International Conference on Human Trafficking taking
place in Rome.
By Lydia O'Kane
An International Conference addressing the scourge of Human
Trafficking is currently underway in Rome.
Promoted by the Migrants and Refugees Section of the
Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the meeting aims to promote
a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of trafficking and to help coordinate
actions aimed at eradicating it.
The gathering brings together 200 participants including
bishops, priests, men and women religious, project coordinators and pastoral
agents, representatives of Catholic organizations and foundations and
trafficking experts from various parts of the world.
One of those taking part at the meeting is the Archbishop of
Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols.
He is participating at the conference as president of the
Santa Marta Group, which has a specific contribution to help establish, and develop
partnerships between the Catholic Church and the forces of law and order around
the world.
Identification, prevention and prosecution of human
trafficking was one of the issues tackled on Wednesday, with the Cardinal
noting that “it was done with real interest because not only could we begin to
identify some of the benefits, but also some of the difficulties in that
partnership.”
Forms of Exploitation
Another theme discussed during the morning session
on Wednesday was the issue of organ harvesting which, the Cardinal
said, offered an opportunity to hear about “the exploitation of very vulnerable
people”, as the demand for organs increases due to chronic illness and old age.
The possibilities of modern technology
A theme that stood out for the Archbishop of Westminster was
the potential offered by modern technology in the fight against human
trafficking and exploitation.
The Cardinal said that during their group session they
looked at the possibility of creating apps for mobile phones that, “would help
to strengthen; give muscle to the global network of the Catholic Church”.
He went on to say that, “I am sure there is much more we can
do to alert people to where the phenomena of human trafficking is most likely
to be found.” The Cardinal also pointed out that apps could be used to
help people respond when they feel themselves at risk or in danger.
Cardinal Nichols emphasized that there was a growing
awareness at the conference that “human trafficking in all its forms is part of
a criminal global network and therefore, these issues are global issues and
what we try to place against that is the global network of the Catholic Church
which is a network for good .”
The conference concludes on April 11 with an audience with
Pope Francis.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét