The October edition of the Newsletter focuses upon the importance of raising awareness amongst youths, who are forced or at risk of committing crimes. 

Comprising a narrative about the realities as experienced by youths firsthand, the Newsletter informs about a card game resource, entitled   C’est toi le boss. The card game was designed by Hors la Rue for use as an educational card game for minors who are forced to commit or are at risk of committing crimes.  The card game aims to inform and educate young people as well as to initiate dialogue on the specific issues they frequently encounter. 

The card game revolves around:

• “Situation” maps evoking the personal, legal, exploitation or health issues that minors may encounter.
• “Solution” cards illustrating the actors who can help young people according to the difficulties they face.

In addition to news about the Card game, the Newsletter is a rich resource bank of information on numerous initiatives associated with anti-human trafficking. Just click on any of the tiles online for further information. 

Full Newsletter:  http://www.contrelatraite.org/jeu-pedagogique

The Council of Europe’s expert group on human trafficking (GRETA) has urged Malta to make efforts to guarantee effective access to compensation for victims of trafficking and to take measures to ensure that human trafficking cases are investigated proactively and lead to effective, proportionate, and dissuasive sanctions. These are among the main proposals for action included in the latest evaluation of Malta’s implementation of Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

Since the previous GRETA report, the legislation has been amended to increase the penalty for human trafficking, exclude from public procurement procedures of companies involved in trafficking, and strengthen victims’ access to assistance. A new National Action Plan on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings, covering the period 2020-2023, was adopted.

All victims of trafficking have so far been represented by NGO lawyers who are funded through projects. GRETA considers that the Maltese authorities should heighten their efforts to ensure that victims of trafficking receive legal assistance and free legal aid at an early stage, including by putting in place a system through the Legal Aid Agency to identify lawyers who are qualified to provide legal aid to victims of trafficking.

Malta remains primarily a country of destination for trafficked persons. During the period 2017-2020, 44 persons were formally identified as victims of trafficking: labour exploitation was predominant (77% of the identified victims), followed by sexual exploitation.

For more information on this article, please see the following links

https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/greta-calls-on-malta-to-strengthen-and-guarantee-protection-for-trafficking-victims

https://search.coe.int/directorate_of_communications/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectId=0900001680a475da

As the world watches the unfolding developments of the migrant crisis on the Belarusian border with Poland, it is important to be mindful of the facts and the pending humanitarian crisis that is upon Europe.

The men, women and children who have found themselves on this perilous journey have done so at great expense and sacrifice and in most cases through desperation in fleeing from conflict and unrest.  

What a risk to take a ‘one way flight’ to a far-off country to them find oneself homeless and helpless, cold and hungry.  

“Thousands of people, mainly from the Middle East, are camped out on the border in what the west says is a crisis engineered by Belarus to divide the EU and hit back against sanctions, charges Minsk has denied…We have to prepare for the fact that the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border will not be resolved quickly. We have to prepare for months. I hope not for years,” Mariusz Błaszczak, the Polish defence minister, told Poland’s Radio Jedynka on Wednesday.” (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/17/belarusian-border-crisis-could-last-for-months-says-polish-minister).

The vulnerability that comes to each of these people due to the crisis situation that they are now enduring will have brought great risks for future exploitation and trafficking, as criminals will certain do all that they can to prey on these people and look at ways to make money out of this terrible insecurity.

“Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, the president of the Polish bishops’ conference, appealed to Catholics to aid the thousands of migrants caught up in a “humanitarian catastrophe” at the roughly 250-mile border between the two countries.  I turn to the faithful and all people of goodwill with a request for a nationwide fundraising — on Sunday, Nov. 21 in all churches and chapels, through Caritas Poland — for migrants from the Belarusian-Polish border,” Gądecki said in a homily at Mass at the Holy Cross Church in the Polish capital, Warsaw, on Nov. 5.

The funds collected during the nationwide collection will be used to finance Caritas Poland’s aid activities in the border areas during the migration crisis and the process of long-term integration of refugees who decide to stay in Poland.” (https://angelusnews.com/news/world/polands-catholic-church-to-hold-collection-for-migrants-at-belarus-border/)

Let us all take some time to think about and pray for those caught in this desperately concerning situation and for decision makers to communicate and find solutions before the depths of winter. 

To mark the EU International Day against Human Trafficking, RENATE colleagues in SOLWODI Hungary presented a day’s conference to raise awareness about human trafficking, share best practice and network together in order to best support one another in the work to combat human trafficking and exploitation.

The awareness-raising event took place on 16th October in Párbeszéd Háza (Budapest, the Jesuit Cultural and Spiritual Center) and was available both offline and online.

Sr. Gabriella Légrádi SCSC, president of SOLWODI underlined the importance of networking.
Ms. Jakobovich Nóra Tamara PHD (Ministry of the Interior) presented the actual achievements and challenges Hungary faces to combat human trafficking.

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Ms. Ágnes De Coll (Hungarian Baptist Aid) summarized a recent Hungarian study on human trafficking, published in 2020.
Her presentation was followed by Lt Col László Kovács, who shared his experience working at the segregated areas in Hungary , taking part in a governmental project that helps 300 Hungarian villages living in extreme poverty, in highly vulnerable circumstances.

Delegates also had the privilege to watch the testimony of a survivor, a young woman who took part in SOLWODI’s recovery programme. It was a deep and moving witness of God’s restoring grace in her life.

The Programme for the day: Párbeszéd Háza – Az emberkereskedelem elleni küzdelem európai napja (parbeszedhaza.hu)

Registration is now opwn for the 3rd Training course for Talitha Kum leaders.

Talitha Kum’s leadership training is a priority of the Network!

The course will be carried out in collaboration between Talitha Kum and UISG, the Pontifical Antonianum University and the Tangaza University College of Nairobi. 

COURSE AIM
The aim of the course is to offer a training to develop professional and relational skills to promote greater collaboration between networks for joint actions against trafficking in persons.

COURSE PROGRAM
how to comprehend human trafficking dynamics;
leadership models
spirituality and Social Doctrine of the Church
the importance of networking and communication
projects’ planning and development
financial management and fundraising
It will also provide information about Talitha Kum’s mission, vision and project of action.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: Monday January 10th , 2022 .

WHEN IS THE COURSE? The course will be online from March 2022 until March 2023

TO APPLY and see full details of the programme:- http://www.antonianum.eu/talitha_kum

Source: Unseen UK

Watch on Youtube

Unseen has written a joint letter with other anti-slavery charities to Alok Sharma, President of COP26. The letter calls for urgent action to acknowledge the link between climate-induced displacement and migration and the increased vulnerability of the world’s most marginalised societies to exploitation and slavery. Click the image above to watch a short film on why its so important to tackle climate change holistically.

Unseen’s CEO writes in The Guardian
The government needs to raise its game in its approach to tackling modern slavery, says Unseen’s CEO Andrew Wallis OBE in an article published in last week’s Guardian newspaper. He also sets out clearly and simply the negative repercussions that the new Nationality and Borders Bill will have on survivors of modern slavery and asylum seekers.

To ensure the UK doesn’t lose its place in the world for tackling modern slavery and exploitation, next week we’ll be asking you to write to your local MP to make crucial changes to this new bill. So please keep an eye on your inbox.

Response from G7
The newly-created coalition of anti-slavery charities – of which Unseen is a member – has received a response to its joint letter to G7 leaders asking for them to endorse supply chain reform and their concerted effort to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking globally by 2030.

In their response, the G7 Trade Ministers stated that they ‘call on all countries, multilateral institutions and businesses to work together, including with survivors of forced labour, to eradicate forced labour from global supply chains.’ They also cited past guidance notices on human rights due diligence to help drive out exploitation.

It’s a step in the right direction, but there’s still much further to go. We will continue to keep up pressure to bring lasting changes on the ground.

Helpline Hero Campaign
Our challenge to our vital supporters to become a Helpline Hero by taking part in our campaign is still open. Visit our website for more details on how you can talk, walk and raise funds to ensure Unseen’s Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline is there for anyone who needs help or has a concern.

The Conference of INGOs organised two events on 18 October 2021, to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 October) and the European Anti-Trafficking Day (18 October).

A ceremony with senior officials of the Council of Europe was held outside the Palais de l’Europe from 12h30 – 13h15, where testimonies of persons who have been a victim of trafficking or whose rights to decent work have been denied were presented.

The ceremony was followed by a webinar that explored the issue of decent work – articles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 26 of the revised European Social Charter related to: the formality of work; usefulness of work and impact on the environment, respect for the rights and dignity of all persons. Dr Mary McHugh, RENATE Representative at the INGO Council of Europe, supported the work in coordinating this webinar of raising awareness against Human Trafficking.
RENATE member Ana Stakaj, Executive at Mary Ward Loreto Albania, presented a very moving and impactful presentation, based on her experiences working with women and girls in Albania whose lives are affected by the lack of access to decent work, rendering them vulnerable to human trafficking and exploitation.

We are grateful to all of you who helped RENATE give voice to the vulnerable, through your sharing of stories from your own ministries, which make the harsh realities of human trafficking very ‘’real’’ for those who attended and heard. Sr Marie Helene Halligan (Good Shepherd) former RENATE rep at the INGO and Marie Christine Davy, another RENATE rep at the INGO, were in attendance at this important event.

View the webinar here