On 6 September 2025, the Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII (APG23) organized an international conference in Rimini entitled “We Do Not Give Out of Charity What is Already Due in Justice: The Society of Gratuitousness and Political Action”, marking the centenary of Father Oreste Benzi.
The event brought together scholars, diplomats, practitioners, and representatives of faith-based and civil society organizations to reflect on Father Benzi’s legacy and address pressing issues of justice, solidarity, and human dignity. Ambassador Michel Veuthey, , delivered a presentation on “Human Trafficking today, the specific case of sex trafficking”.
The conference was structured in three panels:
- Panel 1 – The Society of Gratuitousness: Explored the principles of gratuitousness and human rights as the basis for social justice. Speakers included Maria Mercedes Rossi, Father Marco Pagniello, and Professor Marco Mascia.
- Panel 2 – Human Trafficking and Prostitution: Focused on the mechanisms, routes, and challenges of human trafficking, with Ambassador Veuthey and Adına Ballan presenting strategies to combat exploitation and support victims.
- Panel 3 – Prison, Justice, and Education: Addressed restorative and educational justice in prisons, with interventions by Professor Adolfo Ceretti and Giorgio Pieri.
The conference highlighted the enduring relevance of Father Benzi’s vision: building a society rooted in justice, not charity, and fostering collaboration to protect the most vulnerable.
Here is the text of his intervention.
