Slavery

+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
23 Mar 2003

When she was 12 years old, Puangthong Simaplee was sold to a sex-trafficking gang by her family. She was smuggled into Australia on a false passport in 1986, and spent what was left of her life working in Sydney's brothels.

In September 2001 she was arrested and sent to Villawood detention centre as an illegal immigrant. Malnourished, suffering from pneumonia and withdrawal from heroin addiction, she died there three days later.

When she died she weighed only 31kg.

No one reading the reports from the Coroner's inquiry into death can fail to be deeply distressed by the horror of her sufferings. We like to think of slavery as a thing of the past, but Puangthong's story shows that slavery is alive and well, even in Sydney.

More than 27 million people live in some form of slavery today, a greater number than during the 400 year African slave trade. Many of these are women and children who are trafficked, like Puangthong, for prostitution.

In the lead up to Easter, the Catholic community is contributing to the annual Project Compassion appeal. Project Compassion is conducted by Caritas Australia, the Church's major international agency for overseas aid and development.

Caritas Australia provides aid and disaster relief to more than 60 developing countries all over the world, and this year the theme for Project Compassion theme is 'Freedom from Slavery'.

Thelma Rosario, from Caritas Bangladesh is visiting Australia this month to discuss slavery. She says the trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation has become a global multi-million-dollar industry, and is now the fastest growing business of organized crime.

"Traffickers exploit the poverty of their victims. Project Compassion offers us the opportunity to work towards preventing trafficking," she said.

In addition to these slaves, throughout the world there are tens of millions of child labourers, who are denied the opportunity of even a basic education. This year's Project Compassion appeal is directed to helping bring these people freedom too.

Caritas Australia keeps its administration and fundraising expenses to a low 10% of the money raised. Its administration costs are among the lowest in Australia, and its administration/aid ratio is one of the best anywhere in the world.

Caritas Australia provides assistance to all people regardless of race or religion. Because local people are best able to identify the needs and problems of their own communities, Caritas Australia uses local partnerships to design and manage programs on the ground.

Overseas aid should bring freedom, and freedom from slavery is one of the most important freedoms there is.

To make a donation to Project Compassion's 'Freedom from Slavery' appeal, contact 1800 024 413; or visit www.caritas.org.au; or GPO Box 9830 Sydney 2000.