Statement Regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Call to Action on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
January 22, 2019
With January being Human Trafficking Awareness Month Saint Catherine's Vision has released this statement regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Call to Action on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery.
The Ecumenical Patriarch has taken up the call to action against what he has characterized as the “global abomination” of human trafficking and slavery. Over the course of two years, three international forums have been sponsored engaging this issue: Istanbul, Turkey, February 2017; Buenos Ares, Argentina, May 2018 and Istanbul, Turkey, January 2019. By so doing, His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has begun to shape the future of Orthodox public witness against this affliction infecting contemporary human society.
Under Patriarch Bartholomew’s direction, noteworthy Orthodox institutions and persons, as well as international experts in the field were brought together engaging various aspects of this issue. These international events have initiated a Pan-Orthodox collaborative witness of Christians speaking up and acting on behalf of those who cannot do so for themselves.
Saint Catherine’s Vision (SCV) is grateful for and praises the leadership of Patriarch Bartholomew for his call to “awareness, action and impact.” SCV has been on the forefront in raising Orthodox public consciousness regarding this pandemic. Our public service ministry (diakonima) initiated in 2013, “Divine Compassion (Theion Eleos) and Human Trafficking” contributed to the process leading up to these developments. Today, we acknowledge the Ecumenical Patriarchate has demonstrated historic global leadership in this regard. Presvytera Maria Drossos, one of SCV’s Advisory Board Members, also has been serving as a member of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Special Task Force on this issue.
The Ecumenical Patriarch has successfully focused global attention on the atrocious sins of human trafficking and slavery. As this initiative continues to unfold, we anticipate that pastoral responses will be fostered within the life of the Church “for the life of the world” (John 6:51), as well as inspiring civil authorities to implement public policy benefiting contemporary society
For additional information:
From the Ecumenical Patriarchate:
From the World Council of Churches:
www.ecupatria.org/2019/01/14/forum-on-modern-slavery-awareness-action-and-impact/