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The Diocese is hosting a special presentation with Bishop Richard and members of the Santa Marta Group on Saturday 29 June, 11am-1pm in Shoreham, the event aims to raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking and modern-day slavery, providing valuable insight and information to people across our family of faith.

There were almost 17,000 potential victims identified in the UK in 2022; almost 25% of these were children.

Human trafficking and modern slavery is a human rights violation which has serious consequences for the health and wellbeing of survivors, with victims often unable to come forward because of fear or shame. It is a crime taking place in villages, towns, cities across our diocese and has many forms; victims might be held in someone's home and forced to carry out domestic tasks such as childcare, cooking and cleaning, they could be working in car washes or nail bars, being exploited sexual purposes, or coerced into committing crimes including shoplifting, pick-pocketing or forced begging.

Pope Francis has repeatedly called upon people of good will to combat the practice, urging members of society at all levels to fight "the scourge and feel moved by the testimonies of victims, as well as those whose voices remain unheard."

The role of the Santa Marta Group - established by the Pope in 2014 to fight modern slavery and human trafficking - is to act as a global catalyst and collaborator between Governments, the Church, organisations, and society and to to eradicate this human rights abuse, with partnerships across a range of entities including Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Federal body responsible for the criminal enforcement of crimes relating to human trafficking. Speaking recently, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Santa Marta Group said:

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"With criminal profits of over $150 billion a year, combating human trafficking requires moral leadership and collaboration across all sectors... working together can effect change and is geared directly to combating this evil crime, healing the wound of human trafficking and encouraging the defence of human dignity."

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Join our Saturday 29 June event to find out more about more fighting modern slavery, a crime that hides in plain sight across our communities; click here to register for your free place.

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The diocese has a fantastic network of ecumenical anti-slavery ambassadors working across Sussex and Surrey to raise awareness of and combat this terrible crime, to find out more email Ann. Can you "Spot the Signs" of human trafficking and modern slavery? Click here to visit our Fighting Slavery webpage and find out more.