In his welcome speech today, Tuesday, at the opening of the Panhellenic Conference on “Humanity’s responsibility to rid society of human slavery. The Church's proposal," Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Kotsiras referred to the contribution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Church’s constructive role in combating human trafficking and promoting social awareness. The conference is being co-organized by the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, through the Holy Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.
As Mr. Kotsiras underscored, human trafficking is one of the greatest threats posed by organized crime globally. Greece’s emphasis on combating human trafficking is also reflected in its priorities as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026. These priorities include, as the Deputy Minister noted, preventing and addressing sexual violence against women and eliminating all forms of violence and abuse against children.
Mr. Kotsiras stressed that in Greece’s ongoing efforts to tackle human trafficking, the Church unquestionably has an important role to play through its spiritual guidance, social awareness, strengthening of social cohesion, and practical support for vulnerable social groups.
He highlighted the importance of cooperation between the Church and the State in combating this heinous crime, which, he stressed, “concerns all of us.”
February 4, 2025