BANGKOK: Pope Francis called Thursday for women and children to be protected from exploitation, abuse and enslavement as he began a busy two days of meetings in Thailand, where human trafficking and forced prostitution help fuel the sexual tourism industry. Francis pleaded for action against one of the region’s greatest scourges at the start of his weeklong visit to Asia. He praised the Thai government’s efforts to fight human trafficking in a speech delivered at Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s Government House offices. Francis has made the fight against human trafficking one of the cornerstones of his papacy, calling it a crime against humanity. Under his express wishes, the Vatican has hosted several conferences on eradicating trafficking, featuring women freed from forced prostitution.

Source: Manila Times November 21, 2019 10:30 UTC