human trafficking

Signs a member of a faith community may be a victim of human trafficking: Guide

Human trafficking is a scourge affecting tens of thousands of people worldwide, and victims can come from any social background, regardless of age, ethnicity or economic status. In Romania, the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP) reported in its 2024 review that the number of victims rose compared with the past five years. Against…

Jan 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church voices strong opposition to proposal to legalise prostitution

The Romanian Patriarchate expresses deep concern and disapproval regarding an initiative aimed at legalising prostitution, considering such an approach incompatible with Orthodox Christian teaching and with respect for human dignity. Prostitution represents a serious form of exploitation and commercialisation of the human body for financial gain, with profound negative consequences for both the individual and…

Jan 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

From the Synaxaria: Saints who fought against human trafficking

At the European level, October 18 is dedicated to the fight against human trafficking. On this occasion, we remember that harming human dignity, exploitation, or abuse were not absent even from the lives of the saints, people whom we currently honour as role models. The best-known example is that of Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra…

Oct 18, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel meets with new US Ambassador to Romania Kathleen Kavalec

On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed Her Excellency Mrs Kathleen Kavalec, the Ambassador of the United States of America to Romania, on a presentation visit at the patriarchal residence. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel congratulated the incoming United States ambassador on starting her diplomatic assignment and wished her success in all of…

Mar 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava Archbishop’s anti-human trafficking decalogue

Marking the European Anti-Trafficking Day, His Eminence Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuţi published a decalogue for preventing and combating this social phenomenon with profound adverse effects on children, women, families and communities. “God, today, more than ever, needs Levites and priests, faithful people, to protect the old, the young, the women, the girls and…

Oct 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Anti-human trafficking message read out in Romanian Churches

As part of the partnership between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Romanian National Agency Against Human Trafficking to raise awareness of this serious problem and educate people on how to avoid risky situations, a statement was developed that was read out in Romanian churches on Sunday. The message was timed to EU Anti-Trafficking Day…

Oct 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate partners with National Agency for countrywide campaign to prevent human trafficking

Romania’s National Agency Against Human Trafficking and the Romanian Orthodox Church are currently implementing a national campaign entitled “United, we offer freedom! Exploitation oppresses souls and destroys destinies.” The main message of the campaign is a warning about the phenomenon of human trafficking, addressed both to the believers in the parishes of the Romanian Orthodox…

Apr 12, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate, Government and Bucharest Municipality commit to fight together against human trafficking

On Human Rights Day (December 10, 2020), the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Internal Affairs Ministry’s Romanian Agency Against Human Trafficking (ANITP) and the Municipality of Bucharest signed a cooperation protocol to prevent and fight against human trafficking. The event was held with the participation of His Excellency Adrian Zuckerman, the US Ambassador to Romania, who…

Dec 11, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Archbishop Calinic calls human trafficking the ‘handcuffing in which others throw the weak, killing the soul’

During his Sunday homily, the Archbishop of Suceava and Radauti referred to human trafficking, calling it ‘an outrageous sin that cries to heaven,’ adding that it leads to spiritual death. ‘Spiritual death comes too often from the handcuffing in which other people throw away the weak. They steal their identity, present and future. They rob…

Oct 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

European Anti-trafficking Day: The vulnerable man next to you is the priority here and now, says bishop Damaschin

European Day Against Trafficking in Human Beings is “a day of gratitude, awareness and memory,” His Grace Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna said on Saturday in a message urging everyone to be more present, more attentive to what is happening to their neighbour. “We are all responsible,” he wrote. “The Church supports, in word, action…

Oct 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu