Luena – The Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People from Angola and São Tomé (CEPAMI) has called for vigilance and the involvement of the whole society in the prevention, protection and fight against Trafficking in Human Beings (THB) in the country.
The appeal was made by the executive national secretary of CEPAMI in Angola, Carla Frey Bamberg, during a conference on Moral Conscience and Defence of Human Rights of Migrants and Refugees, held in Luena City, eastern Moxico Province.
In the Framework of the World Refugee Day, celebrated on the 20th of this month, she reminded participants about the vulnerability of children and young women of the suburban and rural communities, by calling fundamentally for the protection of traditional authorities in denouncing this type of crime.
Speaking on the topic "The problem of human trafficking", she noted that human trafficking had involved over 50 million people worldwide, outlining that in Angola, in the first half of this year, the authorities registered 110 cases, of which 79 were confirmed.
The official warned that human traffickers are well organised and identify themselves as good people, enticing parents with food and money in order to exploit their children.
She also considered that it is necessary to provide greater investment to the country's police and administrative forces, particularly in border posts, as well as strengthening procedures for screening, evaluation and for proper monitoring, international cooperation and world partnerships for safe, orderly and regular migration.
The CEPAMI, a body of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST), was created on October 31, 2006. It focuses on organising and promoting the various pastoral services in accordance with the recommendations of the Migrants and Refugees Sector, of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, and of the Holy See.
CEPAMI acts in different areas, such as providing intensive training of social agents to work in the dioceses, the promotion of workshops, conferences, seminars on specific migratory themes for public order agents, educators, academics and citizens in general. LTY/TC/YD/MRA/jmc
