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EUROPEAN BAPTIST
FEDERATION
Consultation on Human Trafficking
Budapest, Hungary, 14-16 April, 2005
Conference Message
1.
We have come together in Budapest, Hungary from 29 nations across
Europe and the Middle East because we are deeply concerned about
the growing scandal of the trafficking of men, women and children
across Europe for commercial sexual exploitation and forced
labour. We have welcomed delegates from other Christian traditions
who have joined the representatives of our Baptist Unions, representatives
of the Hungarian Government and also those who work for Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) in the area of human trafficking. As we
face up this issue we want to be a people of both prayer and
action.
2.
We have heard of the reality of the suffering of the victims
of human trafficking, which we recognise as a modern form of
slavery. This was summed up for us in the opening speech of
our conference by the United States Ambassador to Hungary, George
H. Walker: 'These victims, who only appear to be willing
prostitutes, are in actuality forced in to this nightmare existence
through deception, drugs, violence, rape, or the threat of harm
to a loved one. Whether locked away in brothels or forced to
walk the streets, these women are powerless to escape their
brutal captors, often due to their illegal status in the countries
they find themselves in.'
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Participants of the Consultation
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3.
As we have engaged with this reality our hearts have been deeply
moved by the personal stories we have heard from victims of
trafficking. We have understood too, something of the complexities
of this issue, involving organised crime on a large scale and
the difficulties of co-operation across our continent in the
prosecution of the perpetrators and the rehabilitation of the
victims, especially in the 'countries of destination'. We realise
that action is needed internationally, nationally as well as
at the local level.
4.
We have been challenged to face up to the economic context of
human trafficking, where sex is treated like a commodity to
be bought and sold on demand and where there is such a market
created for it by men. It is this excessive demand which fuels
the growth of trafficked persons across our continent.
5.
We have been impressed by hearing of what NGOs and other agencies,
including some of our churches, are doing to care for the victims
of trafficking and have heard of the provision of shelters and
'safe places', resources for education, and the 're-integration'
of trafficked persons enabling them to work and live independently.
6.
As Baptists we acknowledge our particular identity and resources
which include:
A long commitment to justice
and human rights and an active involvement in the fight to
end slavery
That European Baptists form
one of the most extensive Europe-wide networks of grass-roots
Christians.
A way of being the church
which involves us coming together to listen to one another
and to seek the mind of Christ when we face difficult issues.
This we have sought to do at our Conference.
7.
However, we confess that many of our churches have not faced
up to the reality of human trafficking, either in the countries
of origin or the countries of destination in Europe. In our
Conference we have been challenged to seek a 'fuller' biblical
faith and theology, especially in the affirmation that every
women and child involved in trafficking is an individual made
in the image of God whose human dignity must be fully acknowledged
and protected. We confess that sometimes our mission vision
has been too narrow and has not always cared for the victims,
nor spoken out against the perpetrators of human trafficking.
8.
Therefore we commit ourselves to: - build a network of churches
and Unions throughout Europe to combat trafficking
to co-operate with governments
and other organisations who are also working against human
trafficking - to be prepared as churches to be challenged
and renewed in our thinking and our practice.
to pray for one another and
for everyone involved in human trafficking
to create resources for Unions
and churches in seeking how best to act.
9.
Our specially designed Conference logo includes the words 'that
they should not perish' As those who seek to follow this
word of Jesus Christ concerning the vulnerable people amongst
us, this sums up our hope and our prayer.
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