Imagine the reality of having to flee your home and belongings with little but your family and the shirt on your back, in order to escape war, persecution or terror. Imagine how desperate you would be to try to find a way out, a better life, for you and/or your family.

Imagine how opportune these situations and circumstances are for human traffickers, who ply their trade in persons, taking advantage of people at their most vulnerable. 

According to the  UN, there were 79.5 million forcibly displaced people by the end of 2019. Sadly, this number continues to increase.

To view a recording of refugees speaking about their experiences: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ax5f9KsGfv8&feature=emb_logo

These and other stories can be found here. 

Further information at: https://www.un.org/en/observances/refugee-day

Tuesday 23 June, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.

Keep this date in your diary as you can tune in to hear Imelda Poole, IBVM (President Religious Sisters in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation) and Sister Alicia Vacas (Provincial Superior, Comboni Sisters in Jerusalem) and Sister Stan Therese Mumuni (Superior General, Marian Sistersfor Eucharistic Love), share  about the work of women religious working against human trafficking, during this time of COVID-19.

Co-hosted by the US Ambassador to the Holy See, H.E Callista L Gingrich & H.E. Sally Axworthy, UK Ambassador to the Holy See (L to R in above photographs).

You can follow the symposium in real time via the US Embassy Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/holysee.usembassy/. 

A video recording will be posted at a later date, for people who were unable to join the live event. 

Target 8.7 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals calls for an end to child labour in all its forms by 2025.

While the number of children in child labour has declined by 94 million since 2000, the rate of reduction slowed by two-thirds in recent years. Almost one in ten of all children worldwide are in child labour. Poverty is one of the main factors pushing children into such exploitation, desperately vulnerable children are trafficked for the purposes of labour exploitation, robbing them of their childhood and leaving them exposed to certain psychological and physical harm, often leading to death.

World Day Against Child Labour 2020 focuses on the impact of crisis on child labour. The COVID-19 health pandemic and the resulting economic and labour market shock are having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, the World Day is conducted as a virtual campaign and  a joint ILO-UNICEF paper on the impact of COVID-19 on child labour, has been released on 12 June, looking at some of the main channels through which the pandemic is likely to affect progress towards the eradication of child labour.

To access the report: https://www.ilo.org/ipec/Informationresources/WCMS_747421/lang–en/index.htm?ssSourceSiteId=global

For additional information:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-day-against-child-labour

https://www.ilo.org/ipec/Campaignandadvocacy/wdacl/lang–en/index.htm

COVID-19 restrictions by the Government led to the closure of the office & the learning centre up to 25 May last.  During that time of restrictions, in order to continue and sustain supports, the team held lessons and maintained connections online for the past 2 months.  Therefore, the house remained operative, with 3 girls and their babies quarantined together.

The good news is that they re-opened the office and learning centre once restrictions were eased, after 25 May and they are looking forward to taking in more girls and their babies.

Already, they have advertised for a French Translator, as they anticipate the need to communicate in French in the near future. Earlier this week, one of the French-speaking girls joined the Day Programme and a second French-speaking girl will attend today, 12 June 2020.

Much wonderful work being done, despite the challenging circumstances.

INFORMATION & CAMPAIGNS- collection for your information and awareness.

ACRATH- Australian Catholic Religious against Trafficking in Humans.

A.      Human Trafficking – The Facts

Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, Webinar

https://acrath.org.au/human-trafficking-the-facts/

B.      Modern Slavery Advisory Group

Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Jason Wood MP, has announced the appointment of ten experts with extensive experience in combating modern slavery and supply chain management to a Modern Slavery Expert Advisory Group

https://acrath.org.au/modern-slavery-advisory-group/

C.      AFP tip-off leads to rescue of child sex slaves

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/afp-tip-off-leads-to-rescue-of-child-sex-slaves-20200517-p54tn5.html

D.      MECPATHS

MECPATHS is a social justice response to the growing prevalence of Human Trafficking and the exploitation of people for profit, in Ireland. MECPATHS, in partnership with Maynooth University, launch an accredited module on Human Trafficking

https://mecpaths.com/news-resources/

E.       Stop Trafficking Newsletter 

https://www.sistersagainsttrafficking.org/stop-trafficking-newsletter/

F.       Talitha Kum: International Network of Consecrated Life Against Trafficking In Persons

https://www.talithakum.info/

The Impact of COVID-19 on Human Trafficking

https://www.talithakum.info/en/news/the-impact-of-covid19-on-human-trafficking

G.     International Labor Rights Forum

https://laborrights.org/

H.     RENATE: Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation.

https://renate-europe.net/

Haven of Light Modern Trafficking Media update

https://renate-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Haven-of-Light-Modern-Slavery-_-Human-Trafficking-Media-Update-April-2020.pdf

I.        Human Rights Watch

https://www.hrw.org/

Stay up to date with ACRATH Activities and News Items https://acrath.org.au/   

News from RENATE member in the Czech Republic- during the time of COVID-19.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

Due to the movement restrictions, a lot of the girls who have been prostituted, are now working from apartments/houses & therefore not as easily accessible to supports.

Klara Marie is able to respond to the girls via WhatsApp, which is of some help but there is no substitute for the person-to-person engagement. Prayer for the victims is an essential component of current support.

While there are shelters for victims of violence & domestic abuse, there are none specifically designated for women.

For the avoidance of spreading the infection, many homeless are cared for in hotels-given food, shelter, a bath etc.  They greatly value the experience of ‘’normal’’ life, or a reliable routine/shelter/security/food/hygiene & being medically looked after.

Plans for the future:- Build upon the contacts already made with the girls and maintain those contacts via telephone and/or online possibilities.  Continue the circles of prayer.

Engage with the wider network of RENATE members so we can support one another.