Pro-OFW groups urge Pope Francis to lead charge vs. human trafficking
Pro-OFW groups are banking on Pope Francis, whom they consider as the “biggest ally of anti-human trafficking advocates,” to lead the charge against human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
Migrant rights advocate Susan Ople said as the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis “has this stature [and] credibility, and the divine guidance, that when he speaks about something as complex and problematic as human trafficking, the world listens.”
Addressing the participants at a Conference on Combating Human Trafficking in April last year, Pope Francis strongly condemned human trafficking, calling it a crime against humanity.
Ople's group, the Blas F. Ople Center Policy Center and Training, together with LBS Recruitment Solutions, held a one-day dialogue on human trafficking Wednesday, on the eve of Pope Francis' five-day visit to the Philippines.
For former Labor Undersecretary Josephus Jimenez, Pope Francis, because of his position, could be the country's key to the ASEAN economic integration this year.
The ASEAN integration sets in motion the creation of an ASEAN Economic Community, a single market spanning the 10-nation bloc that includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
“The Pope is a breath of fresh air inside a catacomb of stench and decay. Sa dami ng kapighatian ng Pilipinas, at least meron isang tao na nagbibigay ng pag-asa," Jimenez said.
Lito Soriano, president of LBS Recruitment Solutions, also commended the Pope’s timely visit, noting the country's current “jobless growth,” which he said is affecting the poor, the middle class, and migrant workers.
He also believes that Pope Francis' well publicized stand against human trafficking is partly intended for the Philippines due to it being "a country of migrants".
“The Pope was saying Filipinos need to do more to protect its migrants worldwide. The Pope is saying that what we are doing so far over the last 40 years of migration is not enough," he said.
Soriano also believes Pope Francis' scheduled visit to areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda will lead to the fast-tracking of the rehabilitation process, which in effect would prevent incidents of human trafficking.
Fr. Graziano Battistella of the Loyola School of Theology said the Pope’s stance against forced migration was “very refreshing” because of the little attention it received beforehand.
“The Church has always been against these kinds of practices... the perception or the gravity of these kinds of practices, once globalization aspect has exacerbated these practices; therefore, the need to react strongly against it has increased," he said.
Battistella, an Assistant Professor of Moral Theology and Migration, said the Pope's strong commitment against human trafficking may be due to his familial background and training as a Jesuit.
“One reason might be is that he is also the child of immigrants; somehow he has attended to that. Second reason might be that he's a Jesuit. Father Arrupe, when he was the Superior General of the Jesuits, already called the attention of the Jesuits into the issue of refugees. As a Jesuit, he has perceived the importance of these issues,” he said.
Recalling Pope Francis' visit to Italy's migrant island of Lapedusa, Battistella said these early acts of caring for refugees and migrants showed the Pope's attentiveness to their plight.
But according to Ople, Pope Francis' statements should inspire government officials to act on the plight of Filipino migrant workers.
“Unless there is that resonance, then these are just words,” she said. “If that passion and commitment find room in our own hearts, then we become advocates like the Pope.” —KBK, GMA News
Migrant rights advocate Susan Ople said as the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis “has this stature [and] credibility, and the divine guidance, that when he speaks about something as complex and problematic as human trafficking, the world listens.”
Addressing the participants at a Conference on Combating Human Trafficking in April last year, Pope Francis strongly condemned human trafficking, calling it a crime against humanity.
Ople's group, the Blas F. Ople Center Policy Center and Training, together with LBS Recruitment Solutions, held a one-day dialogue on human trafficking Wednesday, on the eve of Pope Francis' five-day visit to the Philippines.
For former Labor Undersecretary Josephus Jimenez, Pope Francis, because of his position, could be the country's key to the ASEAN economic integration this year.
The ASEAN integration sets in motion the creation of an ASEAN Economic Community, a single market spanning the 10-nation bloc that includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
“The Pope is a breath of fresh air inside a catacomb of stench and decay. Sa dami ng kapighatian ng Pilipinas, at least meron isang tao na nagbibigay ng pag-asa," Jimenez said.
Lito Soriano, president of LBS Recruitment Solutions, also commended the Pope’s timely visit, noting the country's current “jobless growth,” which he said is affecting the poor, the middle class, and migrant workers.
He also believes that Pope Francis' well publicized stand against human trafficking is partly intended for the Philippines due to it being "a country of migrants".
“The Pope was saying Filipinos need to do more to protect its migrants worldwide. The Pope is saying that what we are doing so far over the last 40 years of migration is not enough," he said.
Soriano also believes Pope Francis' scheduled visit to areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda will lead to the fast-tracking of the rehabilitation process, which in effect would prevent incidents of human trafficking.
Fr. Graziano Battistella of the Loyola School of Theology said the Pope’s stance against forced migration was “very refreshing” because of the little attention it received beforehand.
“The Church has always been against these kinds of practices... the perception or the gravity of these kinds of practices, once globalization aspect has exacerbated these practices; therefore, the need to react strongly against it has increased," he said.
Battistella, an Assistant Professor of Moral Theology and Migration, said the Pope's strong commitment against human trafficking may be due to his familial background and training as a Jesuit.
“One reason might be is that he is also the child of immigrants; somehow he has attended to that. Second reason might be that he's a Jesuit. Father Arrupe, when he was the Superior General of the Jesuits, already called the attention of the Jesuits into the issue of refugees. As a Jesuit, he has perceived the importance of these issues,” he said.
Recalling Pope Francis' visit to Italy's migrant island of Lapedusa, Battistella said these early acts of caring for refugees and migrants showed the Pope's attentiveness to their plight.
But according to Ople, Pope Francis' statements should inspire government officials to act on the plight of Filipino migrant workers.
“Unless there is that resonance, then these are just words,” she said. “If that passion and commitment find room in our own hearts, then we become advocates like the Pope.” —KBK, GMA News
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