Work to raise awareness and conscientize the wider public is hugely important in the efforts to prevent human trafficking and exploitation. It also greatly helps in our efforts to widen the net of those who collaborate and engage with us in our mission. 

Sr. Victoria Šimić sends us news from Croatia, where she presents talks on Modern Slavery and anti-human trafficking work, to numerous parishes throughout her Diocese.

Particularly well-received was the presentation Sr. Victoria gave to the parishioners at Vinkovci. The talk was presented before the evening Mass, lasted for 35 minutes and was followed by open discussion, illustrating how engaged the community were in this theme.

After Mass, Sr. Victoria led the adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament, together with the priests and parishioners praying for an end to this crime against humanity.

Such was the success of the programme that Sr. Victoria presented again at a parish near Djakovo and has arranged with a priest in another parish close by, to give the same presentation and lead the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, to take place on 5 March 2020. 

Looking for ideas to engage students in helping survivors of Human Trafficking and Exploitation?

We are most grateful to our colleagues at Medaille Trust in the UK for sharing their recently have published and easily implementable ‘’A to Z Guide to Fundraising.‘’

Brimming with great ideas, it is sure to inspire!

What can you do in your community to raise money for survivors? Have a look at the A to Z fundraising Guide at:

https://www.medaille-trust.org.uk/uploads/publications/A-Z_of_Fundraising.pdf

We are grateful to our RENATE colleagues at Contre la Traite des Être Humains for sharing with us the January edition of the NGO’s Newsletter.

This month’s edition focuses primarily on the importance of regularisation of the victim of human trafficking in order that s/he can secure their human rights.

Frequently, victims of trafficking are unable to prove their identity. The absence of identification papers has a consequent impact on the person’s ability to obtain a housing permit, access education, medical services and much more.

Processing asylum requests is slow, during which time the person cannot work. An inability to join the workforce slows down the survivor’s capacities to integrate into the local community, apart altogether from the inability to earn an income and enjoy ensuing freedoms.

Additional features this month range from an article on Trafficking in Human Beings and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;  an exploration of the phenomenon of trafficking of minors in Paris; how GRETA is making efforts to combat Human Trafficking in our time.

Previous features are displayed on the Home Page, so you can review as necessary.

January 2020 edition of the Contre la Traite des Êtres Humains is available at: 

http://www.contrelatraite.org/regularisation

RENATE members Gabriella Legradi, SJC, and Gabriella Mezinger, SJC,  share news with us of a pilot project by the SOLWODI Hungary Association in collaboration with ORFK (Hungarian Police) and the House of Dialogue – the Jesuit Cultural and Spiritual Centre in Budapest.

The project aims to give information about the phenomenon of human trafficking, focussed on the Hungarian reality. The project also offers an insight into possible ways of prevention and restoration.

SOLWODI Hungary plan to bring this workshop to the Hungarian dioceses where it is requested. Hopefully, the 2020 SOLWODI Event on the European Day Against Human Trafficking will take place in one of the most affected counties, Baranya – with the collaboration of the local Catholic Church leaders.

Gabriella Mezinger, SJC & Gabriella Legradi, SJC.

Members of APT/AMRI held a Liturgy in honour of St. Josphine Bakhita when they met on 10 February last.

Comprising elements of Liturgies shared by Talitha Kum, the UISG & the USCSAHT, the service focused our thoughts and prayers on the victims and survivors of Human Trafficking.

Comprising songs (I am who I am), quotations from Pope Francis and scripture reading form Ezekiel (36:26-27), the Liturgy concluded with the following excerpt from Talitha Kum:

‘’We give thanks for the many people throughout our world who work in so many practical ways to bring an end to Humana Trafficking. Open to the loving-kindness of our God, may heir hearts not tire nor their spirits flag.
let us remember those freed from the chains of their traffickers, may God help them to continue to flourish and to live with hope.

Let us pray for those still trapped by traffickers, ay God keep he hope of freedom alive in their hearts.

Let us ask for a change of heart in those who exploit others in this way…may God open  their eyes to the true dignity of the human person.’’

Together against human trafficking. “No to the commodification of the person”- Justa del Sol Hernando.

On 11 February, the Spanish newspaper, El ADELANTADO, published an article on Human Trafficking, composed by RENATE  member, Justa del sol Hernando, to mark the International Day of Prayer and Reflection on Human Trafficking (8 February). We are delighted to share the feature below.

The declaration of Human Rights in 1948, in article 4, states that: “No one may be subject to slavery or servitude; slavery and trade for slavery are prohibited in any form. ”

More than 70 years have passed since this Universal Declaration, however, slavery has not disappeared, it is invisible. There are many and very different forms of slavery in our 21st century society: labor exploitation, child slavery, forced begging, children for war, forced marriages, sale of children, organ trafficking and marketing, prostitution and sexual exploitation, merchants international …

For more: https://www.eladelantado.com/opinion/justa-del-sol-hernando-juntos-contra-el-trafico-humano-no-a-la-mercantilizacion-de-la-persona/

Radio Catholique France  (ECF) runs a series of recorded interviews on the issue of Human Trafficking. Podcasts of those interviews are available  at https://rcf.fr/

RENATE member Marie Helene Halligon, sends us news of the recording last month, on the issue of Child Trafficking Worldwide and discussions on the report  entitle “Invisible children / an unpunished crime: Taking action against the exploitation and trafficking of children” published by Secours Catholique.

To access the podcast:     https://rcf.fr/la-matinale/la-traite-des-enfants-l-echelle-mondiale

In 2014 a small group of religious sisters and lay women initiated a prayer event in the Sacred Heart Jesuit Church in Budapest for trafficked people on the feast of St. Bakhita Josephine.

On 7th February 2020- the vigil of St. Bakhita’s feast- SOLWODI Hungary Association invited the religious from Budapest for the 7th time to pray for the victims of human trafficking, through the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita.

The Holy Mass was celebrated by H. E. Dr Ferenc Cserháti, Bishop of Hungarians living abroad. The prayers of the Faithful were inspired by the prayer of a Hungarian lady, a survivor of human trafficking.

The Holy Mass was preceded by a pilot project of SOLWODI Hungary Association in collaboration with ORFK (Hungarian Police) and the House of Dialogue – the Jesuit Cultural and Spiritual Centre in Budapest.

The project aims to give information about the phenomenon of human trafficking, focussed on the Hungarian reality. The project also offers an insight into possible ways of prevention and restoration.

SOLWODI Hungary plan to bring this workshop to the Hungarian dioceses where it is requested. Hopefully, the 2020 SOLWODI Event on the European Day Against Human Trafficking will take place in one of the most affected counties, Baranya – with the collaboration of the local Catholic Church leaders.

Gabriella Mezinger, SJC & Gabriella Legradi, SJC.

https://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/1/1355/st-josephine-bakhita-and-the-fight-against-trafficking

On 8 February 2020, we mark the 6th World Day o Awareness and Prayer against Human Trafficking.  Join us in Prayer, Action, and Advocacy to prevent and end Human Trafficking & Exploitation.

A number of resources to assist our work together are available as follows:

1. The Talitha Kum Prayer Vigil ”Together against Human Trafficking,” is accessible at:

https://preghieracontrotratta.org/files/documenti/ENG_Vigil-of-prayer__GMPT-2020_fzeKQIr.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=4fc45db8-3f97-4d68-bcd5-39c806fb9e2c

2. The 2020 National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention month & Day of Prayer Toolkit created by the US Catholic Bishop’s Conference, is available at:

http://www.usccb.org/about/anti-trafficking-program/upload/Anti-Trafficking-Toolkit-2020.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=4fc45db8-3f97-4d68-bcd5-39c806fb9e2c

3. The US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking Newsletter is available at:

http://www.sistersagainsttrafficking.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2020-02-Stop-Trafficking.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=4fc45db8-3f97-4d68-bcd5-39c806fb9e2c