Iraqis hope papal visit can help unify country's diverse communities
- Mar 2, 2021
ROSARIO, Argentina — Experts from around the world gathered online Friday to talk about the scope of human trafficking in Latin America, and to share best practices to prevent modern-day slavery that currently affects some 45 million people from the United States to Thailand. Ilva Myriam Hoyos Castañeda, a lawyer
An Italian nun who has spent most of her ministry working to rescue people from human trafficking from Myanmar to the United States was recognized by the United States’ Secretary of State as a “hero” for her work.
“Do you know where the gold in your crucifix came from?” Simone Blanchard, an expert on ethical trade from Catholic Relief Services, asked. In many cases, she explains, it was procured by children in Peru, forced to work in the gold mines, an illustration of the global reach of human trafficking, estimated at $150 billion in annual profit to be the world’s third most lucrative illegal industry.