Friday, Nov 22 2024 Donate
A service of EWTN News

Women African judges meet at Vatican to tackle 'plague' of human trafficking

Pope Francis meets with participants in a World Day of Reflection against Trafficking in Persons in Vatican City, Feb. 12, 2018. / Vatican City.

A group of around 50 women judges and prosecutors engaged in the fight against human trafficking and organized crime in Africa is meeting at the Vatican this week.

Hosted by the Pontifical Academy for Sciences, the Dec. 12-13 meeting reprises a similar summit held in December 2018.

Pope Francis addressed the summit privately for around 10-15 minutes in the afternoon of Dec. 12.

Judith Wanjala told CNA Pope Francis addressed the problem of human trafficking, "urging us to take positive steps to deal with this problem, which is affecting the entire world, so many countries."

Wanjala, who has heard human trafficking cases as a judge in Kenya for more than 30 years, added that Pope Francis' encouragement of the summit is for her a sign of his strong feelings against trafficking.

She said she is participating in the gathering to share and to understand better what practices judges and prosecutors in other African countries are putting into place.

"I think it is important for everybody to understand what trafficking is, because it affects almost every aspect of society, not just as women but the entire judiciary, prosecutors, police, investigators, and the public," she said. Everyone needs "to understand what human trafficking entails."

One participating judge, who asked not to be identified, called human trafficking a "plague" in Africa.

Mina Sougrati, an administrative judge in Morocco, told CNA that Africa is very concerned about human trafficking.

She explained that the increase in illegal immigration to Europe has been contributing to the problem, especially in Morocco: "There's a big market for human trafficking."

"For me it's very important, you know, that this issue is international. And everyone from society is concerned," she said. "Judges are more concerned because it's up to them to decide whether it's a human trafficker or not."

She added that these meetings are very important because they do not always have opportunities to gather as judges within one country, "let alone the whole continent of Africa."

"So, when we are here, everyone, from each country, talks about the problems, whether there is a law or no law, what is the strategy of the country, are there institutions working on this issue or not. We try to exchange experiences."

Sougrati noted that the group is very happy Pope Francis has decided to create a pan-African committee on the topic of human trafficking. "The pope has done a very good thing," she said. "This is a very, very strong work; no country in the world has done it like this."

"We thanked him for doing this. I felt from his discourse that he speaks from the bottom of his heart that judges must work on this."

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.

As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Click here

Our mission is the truth. Join us!

Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.

Donate to CNA