In Lithuania, there is a growing understanding in society that Human trafficking is both a local and a a global issue. Kristina Misieniene from The Centre Against Human Trafficking and Exploitation and Sr. Dalia Verbyle SJE, as RENATE members, were interviewed about this problem on Mary’s Radio in Lithuania, during the broadcast called “Topicalities.” 
Sr. Dalia presented the biblical theme of leaving slavery, citing two examples, one of Moses being sent by God: “Go and save your own people!” and another example being Mary and her Great Magnificat as a hymn of freedom. Pope Francis’ message was also referenced: “No more slaves, just sisters and brothers!”  Sr. Dalia spoke about RENATE, as a Religious Network in Europe working against Human Trafficking and Exploitation, continuing the work of God in the contemporary, modern world.
Kristina emphasised some practical issues encountered by those working with human trafficking in Lithunia, examples being the lack of cooperation between the institutions and the absence of shelters for victims.  Both Dalia and Kristina, as members of Renate were looking for the possibilities of how the Church in Lithuania, especially Religious communities, could become safe places of shelter for the victims of human trafficking. Publicity about this possibility is very important, so there is a need to have a website, teaching, shelter/s, films, discussions, broadcasts, movement and actions like daily prayers for the victims. These would be good foundations upon which to build a supportive network in Lithuania.
Sr. Dalia Verbyle SJE
Kaunas, Lithunia
Adapted by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.

Support for the Members: Criteria for applying for funding from RENATE
One of the major objectives of RENATE is to support the members in their daily work and to build capacity for this task. To achieve this objective RENATE has a Fund which members can request.
To avail of this fund the applicant must comply with RENATE’s Criteria and the Donor’s Guidelines. Up to ten applications will be considered each year. Over this number will be considered in the following financial year.
It is envisaged that the Fund be used for:

• Language course
• Short respite care for worker
• Upskill a worker in the field of Human Trafficking

(not planned for in the Project’s Annual Budget)

• To meet the emergency needs of those who have been trafficked or may be at risk of being trafficked (not for infrastructure):

For example:

• health issues
• homelessness: 6 months’ rent to help families become independent (resettlement)
• education of woman or childcare fees so as to be free to avail of any educational course.

Amount
Up to €1000 for language course and  €2000 for a local project/Capacity Building per applicant per annum (at the discretion of Core Group).
For financial auditing purposes, the successful applicant must submit receipts with evidence of completion of task and /or a copy of certificate of attendance (where applicable).
How to Apply
Members can avail of this fund by completing the application form available at https://renate-europe.net/support-members
Alternatively, you can write to RENATE’s official email address for an ‘Application Form’.
Please return the completed form electronically to renatenetwork@gmail.com
The request will then be taken to RENATE’s Core Group for approval/non approval.
(Core Group meet once a month).
The Secretary will inform the applicant of the outcome.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.

Twelfth Edition of RENATE Newsletter Available Now.
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Your feedback will be very much appreciated.
Thank you.
Please click here to read the Newsletter

Dear colleagues,
For your information, please find attached the Agenda for the forthcoming Talitha Kum coordination meeting, which will take place in Rome, from the 19^th-23^rd June 2017.
Talitha Kum is an international network of Consecrated life against trafficking in persons and is a project of the International Union of Superiors general (UISG), in collaboration with the Union of Superiors General (USG). It is a network of networks, organised in many different ways, each promoting initiatives against trafficking in persons in their particular contexts and cultures. 
Founded in 2009, Talitha Kum arose from the shared desire to coordinate and strengthen the already existing activities against trafficking undertaken by consecrated persons in seventeen regional networks in seventy countries across the five continents.
Working as a network facilitates collaboration and the interchange of information between consecrated women and men and in this regard, Imelda Poole, IBVM, President of RENATE, will represent RENATE at the coordination meeting. A report on the meeting will issue in due course. More at: E-Bulletin No. 7.June 2017.
Further information on Talitha Kum is available at  http://www.talithakum.info/
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.
 
 

 

 
Dear participants of the EU Civil Society Platform against THB,
Following from the meeting of the Platform of 30-31 May 2017, please find attached the power point presentations as follows:

• An overview of the EU Anti-trafficking action at a glance which is also publicly available on the EU Anti-raffickingwebsite: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/publications/eu-anti-trafficking-action-2012-2016-glance_en
• “Navigating EU Funding”session. Please be informed that national programmes under shared management (AMIF, ISF-Police and ISF-Borders) are available on the national website of the Responsible Authority.
• “Commission’s year of focused actions to combat violence against women”, you can find the presentation attached as well as relevant information concerning available funding at this link (Daphne calls):http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/rec/index.html#c,c
• alls=hasForthcomingTopics/t/true/1/1/0/default-group&hasOpenTopics/t/true/1/1/0/default-group&allClosedTopics/t/true/0/1/0/default-group&+PublicationDateLong/asc

A personal message from the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator.
‘’Thank you for your active participation and contributions to the biannual meetings. Your work is crucial in assisting, protecting and supporting victims of trafficking, in contributing shaping local, regional, national and EU policies; and your diversity brings a crucial value added to our joint efforts.
During the meeting last week, in workshops and networking breaks, several of you shared experiences and ideas, mentioned reports, made references to upcoming and foreseen events. We wish to encourage you once more to consider all these examples as input to be shared with all participants to the e-Platform. It is important to ensure we make full use of this instrument to give continuity to discussions, both making and input and receiving information, and that we involve those additional NGOs that are not included in the meetings.  
Best regards and looking forward to hearing from you,’’
Office of the EU Anti-Trafficking Coordinator. 
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.

 
Research is currently under way in Europe, with the purpose of arriving at a definition of ‘sexual exploitation’ in order that we understand its broader application beyond human trafficking.
Initiated in January 2017, Project DESIrE (Demand for Sexual Exploitation in Europe) is a two- year research-based study, which explores current definitions of the term ‘sexual exploitation’ and its application, (pp. 5-7). The research then proposes wider definitions of the term, as it applies to not only human trafficking, but also to prostitution, sex-slavery, sex-work/survival sex.
A suggested definition of ‘sexual exploitation’ will be tested throughout the research, which emphasises a collaborative approach to addressing the phenomenon and possible solutions.
A number of initial recommendations include ‘’To further develop a holistic approach to prevention of sexual exploitation by avoiding the use of an individualistic model of responsibility, that puts the whole responsibility of the existence of sexual exploitation on the shoulders of consumers and facilitators by introducing a collective responsibility model where all societal stakeholders, governments included, are responsible for reducing the underlying system of injustice and inequality that fuels sexual exploitation’’ (p.9).
Full research proposal at http://www.project-desire.eu/
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.