Birmingham Mayor William Bell was 1 of about 60 mayors from around the globe who gathered July 21 at the Vatican to sign a declaration pledging action on climate change and human trafficking.
Mayors invited to the Vatican attended a two-day conference titled “Modern Slavery and Climate Change,” following Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical released in June.
Human trafficking
The pledge specified bringing an end to “trafficking and all forms of modern slavery,” including prostitution and the selling of human organs.
In addition to Bell mayors from nine other U.S. cities signed the declaration.
“As mayors we commit ourselves to building in our cities and urban settlements the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reducing their exposure to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters, which foster human trafficking and dangerous forced migration,” the resolution reads.
Bell said he was pleased to heed the Vatican’s call for an end to modern-day slavery, according to al.com.
“Now is the time for us to heed the clarion call of Pope Francis to work together to end the universal [suffering] of individuals who are being victimized by human trafficking,” he said in his remarks to those gathered at the Vatican.
(RNS, TAB)
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