Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. HOMEPAGE

Pope Francis calls for greater commitment to fight human trafficking

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is urging the world to show a greater commitment to fighting human trafficking, which he called "a form of modern slavery."

san antonio texas tractor trailer walmart human trafficking
Police officers work on a crime scene after eight people believed to be illegal immigrants being smuggled into the United States were found dead inside a sweltering 18-wheeler trailer parked behind a Walmart store in San Antonio, Texas on July 23, 2017. REUTERS/Ray Whitehouse

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is urging the world to show a greater commitment to fighting human trafficking, which he called "a form of modern slavery."

Advertisement

The pope made the appeal during his traditional Sunday prayer on the U.N.'s world day against trafficking.

Francis said "every year, thousands of men, women and children are innocent victims of labor exploitation, and sex and organ trafficking." He added: "This is ugly. It is cruel. It is criminal."

He called on the world to renew its commitment to battling "this abhorrent plague, a form of modern slavery," and to pray that the traffickers "change their hearts."

The International Labor Organization estimates that 21 million people around the world are victims of forced labor, including victims of human trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation.

Read the original article on Associated Press. Copyright 2017. Follow Associated Press on Twitter.
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account