Vatican support to the government in its plan to fight against human trafficking

In a gesture of support for dad Francisco to the government's strategy to persecute trafficking networks in Argentina, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Vatican envoy to the so-called Santa Marta group, warned today that "trafficking in human beings is a scourge for humanity", although he stressed that "the improvements made in Argentina as a result of this crime have been recognized internationally".

During a meeting at the headquarters of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Nichols said that "human trafficking is a scourge for humanity. subjected to slavery more than 40 million people, according to the most recent figures of the United Nations ".

In this sense, the papal envoy who arrived on Friday during a pastoral visit to the country said that "The improvements made here in Argentina have been internationally recognized in response to trafficking in human beings. Victim identification reaches more than 1,100 of them identified in 2017 ".

At the same time, Nichols recalled that the prosecution of trafficking in Argentina "is ongoing and victims are encouraged to participate in traffickers' trials, with support throughout the judicial process".

Cardinal Nichols was referring to a report from the Ministry of Security which revealed that between 2016 and 2018 there was 1,117 raids related to the crime of human trafficking were stopped 632 people and 2,797 victims they were saved. Most people recovered from this trafficking of human beings responded to work crimes (1,436), followed by crimes badual (586) and reduction to bondage (13), among others.

While in 2015 there was 1,058 people saved from trafficking, 2016 this figure went down to 744 and in 2017 he rose to 1,386. In the report of the Ministry of Security, it was stated that most of the victims who were rescued were women between 18 and 35 yearsalthough there are children subject to slavery from 13 years old. The majority are Argentines, Bolivians, Peruvians, Paraguayans, Dominicans o Chinese who are compulsively caught in the border corridor of the NO A, the NEA and the center from the country.

Accompanied by Monseigneur Jorge Lozano, My lord Hugo Salaberry and the president of the National Justice and Peace Commission, Emilio Inzaurraaga, the cardinal sent by the dad Francisco said that a rescue program provides psychological reports specify which requirements should govern collaborate in treatment traffickers and in support of the victims, and most importantly, there were no cases in which the victims were wrongfully prosecuted.

"All these measures are reflected in the commitment, which I attended, taken by the Commissioner Roncaglia (Chief of the Federal Police) and his respect for young people since his arrival at the first conference of the group Santa Marta five years ago, "said Nichols.

On the other hand, during his exhibition at the Episcopal Conference presided by Mgr. Oscar Ojea, Cardinal Nichols said that "the Church's commitment to fighting human trafficking, as we see it grow here, lies in our commitment to those who need protection so as not to become victims too often forgotten by society"

Thus, it was stated that "in everything we do – whether it is the prosecution of criminals and criminal activity, the eradication of slavery of the supply chains of the Industry, the detection of illegal benefits that pbad through the banking sector or the political impetus to strengthen the legal provisions against trafficking in persons- we must keep the person at the center of our motivation, the vulnerable person who is the target and the target of the exploiter. Emphasis must be placed on human lives and on how to end the suffering and marginalization suffered by 40 million people around the world"

Cardinal Nichols is part of the Santa Marta project, created by the Pope, with the aim of maintaining concrete and effective cooperation between the forces of maintenance of the order, the resources of the Church and the civil society.
Nichols will be in Buenos Aires these days to give a lecture on the Latin American Meeting on New Slavery and Human Trafficking "Together against Trafficking in Human Beings, organized by the Santa Marta Group, Episcopal Conference of the 39 Argentina through the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care Migrants and people on the move, the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral Care and the National Commission for Justice and Peace The Latin American Episcopal Council – Celam – is also involved in this project. through its Ministry of Justice and Solidarity, the Red Clamor and the International Forum of Catholic Action