On Feb 15 at the Holy See Mission to the United Nations, a partnership agreement was signed between the U.S. Homeland Security and the Santa Marta Group to prevent human trafficking.
The Santa Marta Group is an alliance of law enforcement, civil society, and the Catholic Church around the world to eradicate human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
“Cooperation between the Church on my part and law enforcement agencies has always been at the very heart of this developing movement of the Santa Marta Group,” said Cardinal Nichols, president of Santa Marta Group, who was present at the signing. “This memorandum arrives out of a number of years of close cooperation and growing friendship,” he said. From the Holy See Mission press release:
“With criminal profits of over $150 billion a year, combating human trafficking requires moral leadership and collaboration across all sectors. To achieve those points of cooperation that will bring about the confiscation of what Pope Francis always calls ‘blood money’ and help the victims of this scourge on society depends upon partnerships based on trust. It is precisely this trusting relationship established between Santa Marta Group and HSI over the past few years that has brought us to this agreement.
“With criminal profits of over $150 billion a year, combating human trafficking requires moral leadership and collaboration across all sectors. To achieve those points of cooperation that will bring about the confiscation of what Pope Francis always calls ‘blood money’ and help the victims of this scourge on society depends upon partnerships based on trust. It is precisely this trusting relationship established between Santa Marta Group and HSI over the past few years that has brought us to this agreement."
Also present at the signing was Steve Francis, Acting Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the entity of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for the criminal enforcement of crimes relating to human trafficking.
In his remarks, Francis echoed those of the Cardinal, saying that the partnership and signing of the memorandum, “… demonstrates how law enforcement and the faith-based community, working together, can bring awareness and prevention of human trafficking, justice to its perpetrators, and relief to its survivors.”
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, who hosted the signing, agreed, saying that,
“Trafficking in persons is a crime and a violation of the victims’ dignity, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. On Feb 15 at the Holy See Mission to the United Nations, a partnership agreement was signed between the U.S. Homeland Security and the Santa Marta Group to prevent human trafficking.The Holy See Mission is delighted to host this important signing ceremony marking the formal recognition of long-standing cooperation that has already brought much-needed assistance to the victims of trafficking and will continue to do so.”
