Annals of human history are replete with manifestations of social evils and nefarious exploitations of the poor and subdued by the rapacious, oppressive and manipulative. Our era – being no exception – is witnessing the distressing phenomenon of Human Trafficking, which has attained such dismaying international magnitude as to warrant the convening of this most significant conference in Athens.
My hopes are limitless that the ideas, imaginative approaches and effective mechanisms which will emerge out of this conference, will go down on record as a defining landmark – a testimonial to our collective determination to rid world communities from the abhorring stigma of human trafficking. My optimism emanates from a two-fold perception: the genuine commitment of all those who took the pertinent and timely initiative of arranging the Athens meeting, on one hand, and its venue, on the other.
Holding a meeting to devise ways and means of combating and grappling human trafficking in Athens is – I trust all will concur – most befitting. For it was out of Athens that most lofty values consecrating human dignity and emancipation, denouncements of coercion and exhortations of equality among people, have transpired. That was the case ever since dawn of human conscience. It remains true and valid today.