” “A new plan of the European Network of the Churches against the trade of human beings, which will take effect until 2007 and will be operated in close cooperation between governmental and non-governmental agencies, is the initiative put forward during the meeting held in Bucharest (Romania) from March 26th to 30th and which brought together 60 delegates of churches, governments, the police, magistrates from 15 European countries. The network, which has been in place since 2002, now has to face new challenges and offer coordinated responses, depending on the counterparts. The conference was hosted in the Building of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Bucharest and was opened by the Patriarch Teoctist. Special attention was paid to the different areas of the trade of human beings, for instance the slavery of housekeeping, forced labour. A delegate of the police told about the methods used to fight criminal networks, "which often work in a very flexible way". And the delegates of the Churches and the NGOs dealing with these issues put forward some new methods for protecting the victims of exploitation. As to the future actions, all participants agreed on the proposition to raise funds during the World Football Championship that will take place in Germany next summer and to organise public events in 2007 for the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.” “
