{"id":301776,"date":"2020-12-11T18:49:28","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T16:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=301776"},"modified":"2020-12-11T18:52:41","modified_gmt":"2020-12-11T16:52:41","slug":"romanian-patriarchate-government-and-bucharest-municipality-commit-to-fight-together-against-human-trafficking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arhiva.basilica.ro\/en\/romanian-patriarchate-government-and-bucharest-municipality-commit-to-fight-together-against-human-trafficking\/","title":{"rendered":"Romanian Patriarchate, Government and Bucharest Municipality commit to fight together against human trafficking"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Human Rights Day (December 10, 2020), the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Internal Affairs Ministry’s Romanian Agency Against Human Trafficking (ANITP) and the Municipality of Bucharest signed a cooperation protocol to prevent and fight against human trafficking.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The event was held with the participation of His Excellency Adrian Zuckerman, the US Ambassador to Romania, who has set the fight against human trafficking as a priority of his mandate.<\/p>\n

The Romanian Patriarchate was represented by His Grace Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop.<\/p>\n

On behalf of the authorities, the following were present: Lauren\u021biu \u0218tefan, Presidential Advisor; Romania’s Acting Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuc\u0103; former Prime Minister Ludovic Orban; Minister of Internal Affairs Marcel Vela; Minister of Justice C\u0103t\u0103lin Predoiu; ANITP Director Max Nicolae, and Nicu\u0219or Dan, General Mayor of Bucharest.<\/p>\n

The Romanian Patriarchate staff will learn to recognize\u00a0human trafficking\u00a0victims<\/h3>\n

The protocol signed between the Romanian Patriarchate and ANITP provides for common local, regional and national actions of prevention, and creation and distribution of information materials on the issue of human trafficking.<\/p>\n

ANITP experts will instruct the Romanian Patriarchate staff on how to recognize possible victims of human trafficking. This will enable priests and youth workers to better prevent the phenomenon and support the victims.<\/p>\n

The common activities will be promoted on the basilica.ro<\/a> website and in the usual communication with mass-media.<\/p>\n

HG Varlaam: The Church prevents social risks by educating children based on Christian values<\/h3>\n

At the signing ceremony, His Grace Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti mentioned the current protocol is the second signed by the Romanian Orthodox Church with the government after the one established in 2003, at the time of Patriarch Teoctist.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Church can substantially contribute to preventing human trafficking in future and also, even more, to the spiritual recovery of the victims of this tragedy which unfolds in the whole world\u201d, said the patriarchal auxiliary bishop.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom this perspective, I am glad this event takes place on Human Rights Day. Both human rights and the philosophy of the fight against human trafficking are rooted in Christian teaching, in our Lord Jesus Christ’s Gospel,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Basilica.ro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The hierarch said the Church is already working on preventing the phenomenon by staying close to the youth and teaching them Christian values.<\/p>\n

\u201cChristian values are sustained through the priest and the Religion teacher and, when members of a community become vulnerable through lack of education or poverty, the Church finds appropriate solutions in each community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The hierarch emphasized the Church is already experienced in implementing nation-wide projects to prevent social risks.<\/p>\n

For instance, the program Chose School<\/em>, run in partnership with World Vision International, has helped 32,000 children continue their education.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked on this because we believed that, if we prepare them well enough for life, children will also be equipped with the necessary skills that can make them able to resist the temptations and traps that the international networks of human trafficking prepare for them,\u201d explained His Grace\u00a0Varlaam.<\/p>\n

The Church is well-positioned in the Romanian diaspora to support victims of human trafficking<\/h3>\n

\u201cOur Church and the priests from the Romanian diaspora<\/a> in the West have extensive experience in reintegrating victims of human trafficking. We know they carry the stigmata of a painful and traumatizing experience and that healing is very difficult and it only comes through constant striving,\u201d said the patriarchal auxiliary bishop.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis cooperation protocol opens special opportunities with a view to the year 2021, proclaimed by the Romanian Orthodox Church as the Year of the Romanian Diaspora since we know that the final destination of most victims trafficked from Romania is Western Europe\u201d, continued the hierarch.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext year, our parishes from the diaspora will be able to develop very interesting and efficient programs in cooperation with the Romanian Agency Against Human Trafficking,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish to thank His Excellency [Adrian Zuckerman], the Ambassador of the United States of America, for the special attention he paid to the tragedy of human trafficking. I thank him in the name of our Church for his appreciatory remarks about it and we thank him for seeing in the Romanian Orthodox Church a viable and committed partner for the government and the other institutions involved in the fight against this scourge\u201d, concluded Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nicolae Ciuc\u0103: Migration has led to an increase in human trafficking<\/h3>\n

\u201cThis event is a new stage of an effort in which authorities, civil society, the Church and each of us need to join. It is important to raise awareness on modern slavery, a scourge which needs to be eradicated,\u201d declared Acting Premier Nicolae Ciuc\u0103.<\/p>\n

\u201cFreedom is a universal fundamental right and the foremost value of humanity. In all of its forms, human trafficking is an open wound of contemporary society, affecting, sometimes irreparably, its victims,\u201d he added in the speech held at the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cMigration has led to an increase in human trafficking, speculating on the vulnerabilities of the helpless people living in poverty. Statistics place Romania in the top of the migration phenomenon,\u201d continued Nicolae Ciuc\u0103.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a sad reality that we need to accept and for which we are bound to find solutions here, in the country, in order to stop the phenomenon,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cooperation agreement signed today needs instruments, actions and real and practical involvement of those who can contribute to the eradication of human trafficking. We need results. (…) Judiciary efforts against human trafficking need to be intensified. So does the fight against organized crime.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adrian Zuckerman: Church has a special place in Romania, its help is welcome and vital<\/h3>\n

\u201cIt is fitting that we gather here on the International Human Rights Day. For today, Romania has taken a historic step protecting and advancing human rights,\u201d said the US Ambassador to Romania.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuman trafficking is the embodiment of evil. It is barbaric, it is cruel, it had no place in civilized society,\u201d the diplomat added.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuman traffickers around the world, including the organized crime here in Romania, prey upon their fellow citizens \u2013 men, women and young children \u2013 who are subjected to forced labour and sexual exploitation as a result of violence, fraud or coercion. Also, tech criminals may profit,\u201d said Adrian Zuckerman.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs stewards of the public trust, we owe a sacred duty to our citizens to remain resolute in our efforts,\u201d affirmed the ambassador.<\/p>\n