The Annual Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) released on Tuesday, 27^th June, highlights the successes achieved in the fight against human trafficking and also highlights the continuing challenges facing the world, as the crime against humanity continues to flourish. Sobering statistics are cited, for example, with more than 20 million estimated trafficking victims worldwide, there have been less than 15,000 prosecutions in 2016 and 10,000 convictions reported by governments.
This year’s report places special emphasis on the importance of criminal prosecutions, not only as a deterrent to criminals but also as a testimony to survivors, that they matter. Countries are encouraged not only to increase the number of prosecutions but also to prescribe and impose sentences of such severity that they will deter others from engaging in human trafficking and exploitation.
Working closely with survivors was identified as being of significant importance, especially in trials to bring criminals to justice.
Governments worldwide are called to strengthen protections for victims, especially so that they are not penalised for crimes they had to commit as a direct result of human trafficking. There is also the recommendation that any criminal records attached to a victim for crimes committed during trafficking, be erased. The emphasis is on helping survivors secure the justice they deserve and return to a life of dignity and free will.
Full report available at https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2017/
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.

 
At the invitation of and as part of the delegation of Andante, which has participatory status at the Council of Europe that RENATE are hoping to achieve, Marie Hélène Halligon, OLCGS RENATE Core group member, represented RENATE at the June meetings of the Council.  Both days were very full and interesting. On the 27^th of June, Marie Helene attended two working groups, the first one considered Poverty and Social Rights, while the second working group focused on Migration to Europe and the Mediterranean crisis. 
On the second day, the following topics were considered: Gender and Political Processes, Women mobilization in Europe and its impact in politics; Culture and Education Commission. The two-day meeting concluded with a welcome extended to the new NGOs.
Marie Hélène’s attended both days together with Dr. Mary McHugh, President of Andante and Sybille Bader, Andante’s permanent representative to the Council of Europe.
‘’ Marie-Helene has worked well with us and we have enjoyed her contribution to our delegation. This partnership can work well for the benefit of both RENATE and Andante,’’ said Mary.
RENATE is excited at this first step towards gaining full Council registration in the future.
More from Marie Hélène soon.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person. 
 

Fr. Shay Cullen, a member of the Irish Missionary Society of St. Columban and founder of The Preda Foundation since 1975, reflects upon the successes gained in the fight against child abuse by means of the World Wide Web.
Nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, Fr.Cullen, 72, has worked protecting women and children from sex slavery and promoting human rights, peace and non-violence in the Philippines since 1969.
Full article at: Success Against the Child Abusers Online- Fr. Shay Cullen.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.
 

• The definition – complex – of corruption and education issues to try to change attitudes, focusing on young people.
• What commitment of the Church, and with whom? Common good vs. individualism
• Who is corrupt? “It’s not me, it’s the other” (Testimony of a “survivor”)

Many avenues have been opened:

• Exchange of “best practices”
• Choose, because you cannot do everything
• Help justice do its job
• Cooperate with ALL, as this problem affects all of humanity
• Open eyes through art, including cinema, images … that captivate young people
• Make the Catholic Schools a concrete anti-corruption field by encouraging pupils’ expression on any form of abuse, so that they can experience concretely that corruption can be tackled, otherwise they may not realize exactly what is being discussed.
• The journey must start from the heart.

Conclusions by Bishop Thomasi:

1. Prepare a definition of corruption (practical and useful)
2. Indicate the consequences of corruption (on development, poverty, trust between people …)
3. Importance of Prevention.
4. The need for a new legal framework, to recall the tools to combat corruption at international level. Implement existing global tools at the level of States.
5. The place of change is the heart. Changing mentalities through education, participation of the Church to counter corruption. Achieve the integral development of human dignity. There are 55 million young people in Catholic schools and universities in the world who are taught respect … The Church, an educational agent, must work with all those in society who want to fight and eliminate corruption. The MDGs are a universal tool for the ethical efforts of all.

A draft document will be sent to all. Suggestions will be welcome.
Edited by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
 
 

 
This week, June 18th, we have been in Rome representing RENATE along with 6 continental/regional coordinators of Talitha Kum in a working group facilitated by Pat Murray IBVM, the General Secretary of UISG and with Gabriella Bottani the Director of Talitha Kum. During this week, we have circled the globe looking at how effective the growing global network of Religious women and co-workers is in this desire to combat human trafficking.
We are looking more closely at the links between this global pandemic and the massive phenomena of the migration and refugee flows around the world.
We have become linked with the newly reconstructed major Papal commissions related to JPIC such as the Refugee and Migration Council, the Laity and Women’s Council and Caritas Internationalis. 
Good communication and the sharing of information and best practice has been the hallmark of the week. The constant challenges in the work have been shared and guidelines have been written as the means for all protagonists to ensure immediate communication and transfer of information for fruitful outcomes in the work.
We try so many new ways of developing strong networking and to help our work to become a little more effective.
At present on a lighter note, as I write this short report, I am sitting in a coffee bar after early morning Mass at The Gesu. You were all remembered. Our meetings for the week have been at the offices of UISG on Ponte Angelico overlooking the Tiber and the Colosseum. It is all very beautiful and very hot! 
Imelda.
23 June 2017.