Pope Francis calls for protecting dignity, rights of migrants, refugees

BANGKOK - 21 November 2019: Pope Francis called for migrants to be made welcome and women and children to be protected from exploitation, abuse and enslavement as he began a busy two days of activities in Thailand on Thursday, the Bangkok Post reported.

"May every nation devise effective means for protecting the dignity and rights of migrants and refugees, who face dangers, uncertainties and exploitation in their quest for freedom and a decent life for their families,'' he said.

The Pope pleaded for action against one of the region's greatest scourges, human trafficking to fuel the forced labor and sex trade industries, as he began a week-long visit to Asia.

Francis praised the Thai government's efforts to fight human trafficking in a speech delivered at host Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's Government House offices, appealing for greater international commitment to protect women and children "who are violated and exposed to every form of exploitation, enslavement, violence and abuse''.

He called for ways to "uproot this evil and to provide ways to restore their dignity''.

"The future of our peoples is linked in large measure to the way we will ensure a dignified future to our children,'' he said