“This is business”: Catholic Bishops in Africa Warn about Biggest Beneficiaries in Human Trafficking

The SECAM official observed that while African countries have robust laws and structures to counter trafficking, imperfections exist. 

He said that one of the biggest setbacks in the fight against human trafficking is financial interest. “There is a lot of money exchanging hands,” Fr. Okello said. 

“This is business,” he emphasized, and continued, “This makes even governments reluctant to face trafficking head-on because it is a source of funding for very many projects.”

The Catholic Missionary Priest noted that in some instances, traffickers become philanthropic and donors in very big institutions, making them untouchable.

The February 8 event was marked by prayers, speeches and peaceful marches in over 30 African countries. Survivors of human trafficking came forward to share their experiences at the event that marked the launch of PACTPAN’s five-year campaign against modern-day slavery.

In his address on behalf of SECAM President, the Liaison Officer for the Catholic Bishops in Africa at the Addis Ababa-based AU noted that governance is critical to the question of trafficking. 

Appealing for intensified initiatives aimed at fostering effective governance, Fr. Okello said, “If we don't have good governance that takes care of its people, one that is progressive, and creates wealth and distributes it equally, creating jobs for the people, we will always have more and more trafficking.”

He went on to highlight the big demand for trafficked people in the Middle East, in Europe, in America, and even within Africa itself, as a driver for human trafficking.

Other drivers, Fr. Okello said, include poverty and unemployment, a narrative about “paradise on the other side of the world”, as well as ignorance.

“That narrative needs another narrative to counter-act it, and to enable people to know the truth,” the official of SECAM since the relaunching of the Symposium’s Observer Status at the AU in February 2023 said. 

Providing a link between climate change and human trafficking, Fr. Okello said, “Climate change has caused a lot of poverty. People are experiencing difficulties, and they can no longer live in Africa. There is very little response to climate change.”

He also proposed the support for strong, transparent, and enforceable legislation that protects victims and punishes traffickers.

The Kenyan IMC member observed that in many African countries laws on human trafficking are ambiguous and need scrutiny. He lamented that in many countries, traffickers are fined instead of being jailed. This, Fr. Okello said, “is a very weak way of tackling this problem.”

He noted that traffickers already have a lot of money, and therefore, they have no problem parting with whatever amount is asked of them. “These people should always be kept behind bars,” he said.

Uganda’s Vice President, Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, gave the keynote address during the February 8 event on the theme, “Restoring Hope in Africa: A Jubilee Call to End Human Trafficking”.

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In her address, Ms Alupo acknowledged the universality of the human trafficking menace.

“This issue cuts across borders, cultures, and economic systems and sadly, many countries across the world have crossed into legislation gaining normalcy in the name of labour export. This should concern all of us!” she said.

Uganda's  deputy head of state appealed for collaboration to end human trafficking, saying, “I would like to call upon all of you theologians, philosophers, lawyers, professors, academicians, the faith based organizations, media, government enforcement agencies, regional and international players as well as the private sector to all work together to combat this cancer on our common conscience or we will watch the cancer spread and eat us all up!”

PACTPAN’s Coordinating Servant, Fr. Stan Chu Ilo, thanked participants in the campaign for their determination to stand up against human trafficking.

“I thank you for believing in a better possible Africa for the most vulnerable, the most abused, the most abused and destroyed members of our common family,” Fr. Stan said.

The PACTPAN official described trafficking and modern-day slavery as “the oldest forms of crime and sin”, adding, “Today, you are standing up to say that we believe in the African moral tradition of abundant life. We believe that we are one family, and when any one of us is trafficked, abused, enslaved, and manipulated, all of us suffer.”

Fr. Stan further appealed to participants at the launch of the campaign against human trafficking to continue with the spirit of the campaign by establishing in every national chapter, a strong association of “God’s squad” that he said would continue creating awareness against the menace. 

The Director of Programs at PACTPAN, Sr. Leonida Katunge, who is coordinating the campaign, reminded participants that the mission of the team of theologians on the continent is to end modern-day slavery. 

“We want to educate and empower communities to recognize the signs of trafficking and take preventive measures,” Sr. Katunge said.

“We want to advocate for stronger policies and enforcement against traffickers and those who fuel this evil against human beings. We want to rescue and re-integrate survivors through pastoral care, ecological support, and economic empowerment,” she said. 

The member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, (SSJ Mombasa) noted  that the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year challenges the people of God to renew their commitment to justice, and to work tirelessly towards eradicating modern-day slavery.