The professor highlighted the conference's discussion of the many "new forms" of human trafficking which are "expanding to involve children and adolescents." In addition, participants had looked at the many risk factors for trafficking, including poverty, lack of education, disintegrated families and weak or corrupt law enforcement.
It was not only the many problems with trafficking that were considered, however: experts and practitioners in fields such as law, medicine, and sociology offered practical solutions they had found to be successful in their own work.
Detective Inspector Kevin Hyland of the London Metropolitan Police, for example, spoke of a new program in place at Scotland Yard that works with victims of trafficking over a period of time, helping enable them to testify in court.
Since the program has been in place, "the number of guilty pleas is on the rise" because many criminals do not want to face such testimony by their victims.
Upon the close of the weekend, conference organizers issued a "joint statement based on the suggestions presented by the participants," which included proposals for media, religious institutions, civil organizations and business sectors to work together in order to combat human trafficking.
Organizers hope to eventually issue a statement that includes more specific proposals. Bishop Sorondro indicated that he believes Pope Francis will act on this issue as well.
According to Williams, the first step "is to look at the problem very deeply," in order to find solutions.