Photo: Lantem Light

The president of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain highlighted the relevance of human dignity and rights at the first meeting of the newly established Joint Commission on the Social Problem of Human Trafficking. 

The meeting was held on 13 May between the representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece.

The meeting was hosted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the blessing of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and took place at the Patriarchal Residence.

The meeting discussed the primary goal of the Joint Commission, emphasising the importance of training clergy to identify victims and raising society’s awareness about the tragic reality of prevalence of slavery and human trafficking. During the proceedings of the first session, particular emphasis was also placed on recognising various aspects of slavery and human trafficking, with a special focus on the need for a comprehensive understanding beyond sex trafficking, including cases of labour exploitation, organ trafficking, child abduction, and domestic servitude.

A number of events and initiatives were planned to address the issue of trafficking.

The meeting was co-chaired by His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Ilion, Acharnes, and Petroupolis, on behalf of the Church of Greece. Among others were Rev. Patriarchal Deacon Hieronymos Sotirelis, Acting Secretary, Dr Petre Breazu, Senior Research Fellow at Cambridge University, and Ms Katerina Pekridou, CEC Programme Officer for Theology and Studies.

The Church of Greece was represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Ilion, Acharnes, and Petroupolis, Co-Chairman; Rev. Archimandrite Spyridon Katramados, Acting Secretary, Rev. Deacon Nikodemos Malamatenios, and Mr Dimitrios Anyfantakis, scientific collaborator of the Holy Metropolis of Ilion, Acharnes, and Petroupolis.