UK Church Leaders Lead Fight Against Modern Slavery

Church leaders across the UK are stepping up in the battle against modern-day slavery. 

Nuns, bishops, and other leaders are tackling the problem through programs like "Santa Marta," a project that teams religious leaders with law enforcement officers to put an end to the crime. 

Cardinal Vincent Nicholas, an overseer of the Santa Marta project, calls modern slavery a "huge problem in the fabric of society."

According to the International Labor Organization, 21 million people are victims of slavery in factories, fisheries, nail bars and prostitution. 

The Modern Slavery Act was passed last year and requires slave owners and traffickers be sentenced to life in prison. 

Cardinal Nicholas told the Associated Press that although prosecution of offenders is important, his anti-slavery efforts are about making victims a priority. 

"Yes, it is a terrible crime, and yes, there is prosecution to be pursued, and yes, it is fascinating listening to people talk about developing instruments that can help banks be aware of where money might be coming from. But we want to keep the victim at the center of this," he said. 

Many victims are trafficked all around the world. That's why airport staff are being trained to spot the signs of human trafficking in airports before the victims virtually disappear. 

But Cardinal Nicholas says that while many victims come from abroad, many modern-day slaves can be found right at home.

"The very first person I met who suffered this was an English girl who was trafficked and deceived by a relationship with an Italian lad who invited her to Italy," he said.