July 30 is World Day Against Human Trafficking
July 29th, 2016
“This immense task, which calls for courage, patience and perseverance, deserves the appreciation of the whole Church and society. Yet, of itself, it is not sufficient to end the scourge of the exploitation of human persons. There is also need for a threefold commitment on the institutional level: to prevention, to victim protection and to the legal prosecution of perpetrators. Moreover, since criminal organizations employ global networks to achieve their goals, efforts to eliminate this phenomenon also demand a common and, indeed, a global effort on the part of various sectors of society.” (No Longer slaves, but brothers and sisters, Pope Francis’ message for World Day of Peace, 2015)
In 2013 the UN adopted a resolution designating July 30 as the World Day Against Human Trafficking to “raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.”
The International Labor Organization estimates that 21 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking. Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labor and sex. Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims.
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- Read a book review I Have a Voice – Trafficked Women – in their own words by Mary O’Herron
- Read a July 19 speech by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations on eliminating the trafficking of children and young people
- Visit the UN Office on Drugs and Crime for more information and ways to get involved
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Related keywords: book review I Have a Voice, Trafficked Women, trafficking of children, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, victims of human trafficking, World Day Against Human Trafficking
