Ending Trafficking Begins with us. Das Ende des Menschenhandels beginnt mit uns. Terminarea traficului incepe cu noi.Dhënia fund e Trafikimit Fillon me NE. Az emberkereskedelem vége velünk kezdődik! It-tmiem tat-traffikar uman jibda minna stess. Ukončenie obchodovania začína od nás. Крајот на Трговијата започнува со нас. Terminar com o tráfico começa por nós. Fine tratta comincia da Noi. Oprirea traficului de persoane începe cu noi. Położenie kresu handlowi ludźmi zaczyna się od nas. Het einde van mensenhandel begint bij ons. Mettre fin à la Traite : à nous d’abord de nous y mettre. Konec trgovanja z nami. Припинення торгівлі людьми починається з нас. Kova prieš prekybą žmonėmis prasideda nuo mūsų. Acabar con el tráfico humano empieza con NOSOTROS. At gøre ende på menneskehandel begynder hos os. Cilēku tirdzniecības beigas sākas ar mums. KONEC OBCHODOVÁNÍ S LIDMI ZAČÍNÁ NÁMI! KRAJ TRGOVANJA POČINJE S NAMA! PRESTANAK TRGOVANJA LJUDIMA ZAPOČINJE S NAMA! Краят на трафика на хора, започва с нас
On 8 February 2019, the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, St. Bakhita Day, the URAT Network in Albania, with the support of the Archbishop of the Diocese of Tirana-Durres, organized a special prayer service at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Tirana.
This event gathered all those who work in the anti-trafficking field in Albania. Among those present were Imelda Poole MWL, Ms. Brikena Puka, Vatra Psycho – Social Centre; Mrs. Syrie Pepa, Erion Prendi SHKEJI Organization; Ms. Ana Majko, ARSIS Initiatives; Different and Equal; Don Marjam Lumci; United Response Against Trafficking (URAT) Albania and RENATE.
Many thanks to all who made this evening a success: Ana Stakaj with MWL who facilitated the service on behalf of URAT; Erion Prendi from SHKEJ, chair of URAT, who coordinated the presentation; Gazi Memaj who organized the beautiful music; and Genc Gjoci who works with MWL and coordinated the youth presentations during the event.We prayed together for the victims of trafficking, we made calls to stop this action and lit candles for the victims. Two short films were also shown, one of Pope Francis speaking about the fight against human trafficking in the world and the other a performance of a song called: ‘Inside so Strong’, sung by the girls of Loreto Grammar School, Altrincham, UK, and dedicated to the victims of Human Trafficking, a song of hope and strength.
From Albania, we have news of a number of events which are organised. Of particular note is the Prayer Vigil on 8 February, based on the theme ‘’Together against human Trafficking.’’
The Vigil will see the collective strengths of all those who work in the anti-trafficking field in Albania. It includes Mrs. Rovena Voda, Anti-trafficking Coordinator / Ministry of Interior; Ms. Brikena Puka, Vatra Centre; Mr. Alfred Matoshi, The Men’s Shed; Mrs. Syrie Pepa, Different and Equal; Ms. Ana Majko, ARSIS Initiatives; a message of solidarity from the Honorable Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Leyla Moses-Ones; United Response Against Trafficking (URAT) Albania; RENATE; Don Marjam Lumci and the Deputy Ambassador of OSCE, Mr. Robert Wilton. The text of the Prayer service is included below.
On the occasion of St. Bakhita Day in Budapest, H.E. Revd. Michael August Blume, svd, Papal Nuncio to Hungary, will open a Prayer Service jointly organised by the Religious sisters and colleagues at SOLWODI Hungary and their brothers from the local Jesuit community. RENATE member Gabriella Legradi sends us a Flier of the Prayer service as attached.
Following the opening prayers by the Nuncio, a policewoman from Máriabesnyő will speak about the crime of Human Trafficking and its impact not only on the victims, but also on their families, the local community and wider society.
It will be an opportunity to share about the Solwodi Association in general and the collaborative work undertaken to combat Human Trafficking and support survivors.
The prayer service will conclude with some time for quiet reflection and private prayer, followed by Holy Mass.
You can see the link on the website following the service.
The Ayme, a weekly resource sheet produced by Loreto Ministries for use in schools and associated ministries throughout Australia and South-East Asia.
It is primarily a resource for staff who are then invited to adapt material for members of their community.
APT have planned a national awareness-raising one-day conference to take place on 1 March, at the Atrium, Department of Justice and Equality and have secured Mr. Kevin Hyland, OBE, former UK anti-Slavery Commissioner as the key note speaker. Guest speakers on the day include Ms. Noelene Blackwell, CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre; Ms. Sheila Crowley, services Manager at RUHAMA and JP O’ Sullivan, MECPATHS. A number of Transition Year students and their teachers will present on the teaching and learning about the topic of Human Trafficking, at Post-Primary school level.
A report on the event will be available post 1 March next.
On February 8, 2019 let’s turn on a light against the trafficking of persons, to celebrate the 5th edition of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against human trafficking that this year will have as its theme:“TOGETHER against human trafficking”.
The first edition of the IDPT was celebrated on February 8, 2015, by the will of Pope Francis, who in 2014 entrusted the International Union of Superiors and Superiors General (UISG / USG) with promoting this day. In these years, gathering in prayer has facilitated collaborating and overcoming the boundaries within which we operate, dedicated to our projects that, although very important, could lead us to cut ourselves off from the others. The great tragedy of trafficking urges us to overcome every barrier to join forces and collaborate for the common good. On February 12th 2018, Pope Francis received a group of young people and representatives of the organizations sponsoring the International Day of Prayer. On this occasion he donated a very beautiful prayer that can be downloaded, into many different languages, from TALITHA KUM Website. Urged by the questions of the young participants, Pope Francis recalled how important it is to tackle the root causes of trafficking and wished “that all of you can send a message to leaders at every level of governments, business and society, to demand access to quality education and, consequently, fair and sustainable employment.” This requires us to coordinate our actions and unite our strengths. “Together against human trafficking” is the invitation addressed to everyone, each according to their own possibilities.
Feast Day 8 February
St Josephine Bakhita, also known as ‘Mother Moretta’ (our Black Mother) bore 144 physical scars throughout her life which were received after she was kidnapped at the age of nine and sold into slavery.
Born c. 1869 in Olgossa, Darfur, Sudan Died 8 February 1947, Italy Year of beatification 1992 (17 May) Year of canonisation 2000 (1 October)
Such was the trauma experienced that she forgot her birth name and her kidnappers gave her the name Bakhita meaning ‘fortunate’. Flogging and maltreatment were part of her daily life. She experienced the moral and physical humiliations associated with slavery. It was only in 1882 that her suffering was alleviated after she was bought for the Italian Consul. This event was to transform her life. In this family and, subsequently in a second Italian home, she received from her masters, kindness, respect, peace and joy. Josephine came to discover love in a profound way even though at first she was unable to name its source. A change in her owner’s circumstances meant that she was entrusted to the Canossian Sisters of the Institute of the Catechumens in Venice. It was there that Bakhita came to know about God whom, ‘she had experienced in her heart without knowing who He was’ since she was a child. She was received into the Catholic Church in 1890, joining the sisters and making final profession in 1896. The next fifty years of her life were spent witnessing to God’s love through cooking, sewing, embroidery and attending to the door. When she was on door duty, she would gently lay her hands on the heads of the children who attended the nearby school and caress them. Her voice was pleasing to the little ones, comforting to the poor and suffering. She was a source of encouragement. Her constant smile won people’s hearts, as did her humility and simplicity. As she grew older she experienced long, painful years of sickness, but she continued to persevere in hope, constantly choosing the good. When visited and asked how she was, she’d respond: ‘As the Master desires’. During her last days she relived the painful days of her slavery and more than once begged: ‘Please, loosen the chains… they are heavy!’. Surrounded by the sisters, she died on 8 February 1947.
In an effort to quantify the actual numbers caught up in Modern Slavery in the UK, Sir Bernard Silverman applies a mathematical model based on data-analytics and comes up with more realistic but frightening figures.
In early January 2019, Rome Reports ran a feature on the work of RENATE, entitled ‘’Human Trafficking: No law is really on the side of the victim.’’ The feature was screened nationally and internationally via the web, thereby raising awareness about Human Trafficking and ensuring informed action is taken to prevent and combat Human Trafficking.
The interview with Imelda Poole, IBVM, President RENATE Europe, is available at:
PROVINCE WEEKLY: Happy Mary Ward week! Celebrate and enjoy a woman who did much.
Let us give thanks for the light those before us have been to their world and may we continue to be light for others and receive the gift of their light for us.
A Funny Thing happened on the way to the station . . .
This account begins and ends at the railway station. Setting out early on the morning of Mary Ward’s birthday I wandered into the newspaper cabin at Altrincham station. For a couple of minutes the newsagent and I engaged in an infinite deal of nothing about Brexit. Eventually I told him, sheepishly, that I was going to Westminster myself that morning. He asked me why I was going and I told him that I was going to a meeting. He asked me what the meeting was about and I said, ‘Anti-trafficking’… Please click for more.
RENATE was launched in 2009 by a small group of Religious from across Europe, who fulfilled the task to constitute the Foundation in The Netherlands as a non-profit NGO, under the Umbrella of the International Organisation, Talitha Kum, a network of networks across the world of Religious and co-workers founded in Rome by the major Religious Superiors conference. As with all these other continental networks, RENATE constitutes a network of religious and co-workers from 31 European countries who all have the common mission of working against Human Trafficking. It is a most extraordinary and huge body of women and men who have the enormous capacity to act fast and with compassion and loving care across borders, right across the world:
Working tirelessly to rehabilitate victims, free the world of labour exploitation, slavery and forced organ harvesting.
Addressing the root causes of systemic injustice that creates and sustains this vile trade in human lives.
Using its network to strengthen communication and co-operation between countries of origin, transit and destination.
Providing opportunities for the full reintegration of victims which can include protection in a safe home, acquisition of proper documents and training for meaningful work so that victims can regain and be enabled to live life to the full.
Educating society, particularly youth, to view all forms of human trafficking and exploitation as totally unacceptable.
Challenging judicial and civil authorities to adopt and enforce legislation that protects victims, provides them with adequate compensation, punishes clients and buyers and seizes the assets of perpetrators. Member of the European Parliament:
Collaborating with the media in efforts to bring a strong voice to the attention of the world denouncing all aspects of human trafficking and exploitation.
Every member is connected at grass roots with many other networks and partners which involve local National Referral Mechanisms, governments, police, many other statutory and non- statutory services.
Story: a. Greece and rescue cross border from back of website via Italy, b. illegal agencies/passport/police company and labour trafficking of young Philipino in Albania, c. Cardiff and 4 Albanian girls – linking with welsh anti trafficking groups, Kevin Hyland for advise all forming new partnerships and extending the networks from the North to the south of this country within one weekend, last weekend.
Communication is at the heart of the work but communication is only effective when the communication comes from a heart filled with compassion and love. Listening with this understanding is a response in love. This leads to generative listening when we are listening with the desire to understand with such compassion that we can hear the story, the new insights being born. This will lead to change of law, change of attitude to the crime and the victim. It will be based on a deeper commitment to justice leading to just action for the protection of the victim and just action dealt out to the perpetrators. We cannot deny the truth when we really hear it so it hurts.
Invite all Parliamentarians to stand, then all RENATE members to stand. Invite them to listen to one another, invite the parliamentarians to listen to those working at the grass roots.
One hundred guests joined RENATE members at a parliamentary reception in the Churchill Room in the House of Commons on 23 January 2019. Thanks to the ARISE Foundation for their support in sponsoring the event as former Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Trustee member of the ARISE Foundation, Rt Hon Lord Hogan-Howe welcomed all present and set the context for the afternoon which saw contributions from Mr. Iain Duncan-Smith MP, Commons sponsor of the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill; Mrs. Maria Miller MP, co-chair of the Independent Review into the 2015 Modern Slavery Act; Revd Dr Carrie Pemberton Ford, lead researcher of the Mapping exercise and Imelda Poole, IBVM, MBE, RENATE President.
Revd Dr Carrie Pemberton Ford
There were two purposes to the reception. First, to help close the gap between frontline antislavery groups throughout Europe and lawmakers by bringing the two together. Second, to launch new research commissioned by RENATE Europe, undertaken by Revd Dr Carrie Pemberton Ford, Director, Cambridge Centre for Applied Research in Human Trafficking (CCARHT) and Research Associate with the Centre for Global Migration (Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge), with assistance from desk-researchers and RENATE members in the field. (www.ccarht.org and carrie@ccarht.org ).
The researchers behind the report undertook painstaking work in seven European countries (Albania, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Slovakia, The Netherlands and Ukraine), setting out to document and analyse responses to the problem of child trafficking. Its findings are a wake- up call. The report authors conclude:
“…in none of the countries studied were the measures of protection comprehensively adequate to the special needs of unaccompanied minor migrants.’’
Lord Hogan-Howe, trustee of anti-slavery charity and co-sponsor of the event, the Arise Foundation said:
“I am delighted to play a part in bringing the voice of frontline anti-slavery activists to parliament. Westminster can be a bubble, and this often brings about a disconnect between what is happening on the ground and what policy-makers are discussing. Modern slave traders are organised criminals. They quickly and cleverly adapt their methods. We need frontline intelligence on the true picture of what slavery looks like, not just for our benefit, but to raise awareness among the general public who often feel far removed from the world of slavery, but in reality, are not. I commend the superb work of RENATE in bringing this invaluable knowledge to the fore.”
Lord Hogan-Howe, trustee of anti-slavery charity and co-sponsor of the event, the Arise Foundation
Mrs. Maria Miller, gave an overview of the review of the Modern Slavery Act and her commitment to continued provision of legislation in order to combat and end the crime of Human Trafficking. RENATE members were particularly affirmed and encouraged by her statement that ‘’You only really tackle the complex problems associated with Modern Slavery, by working with organisations such as RENATE. You are an encouragement to us all.’’
Mrs. Maria Miller, MP.
Mr. Iain Duncan Smith spoke about the complexity of the issue of Human Trafficking and commended the RENATE network for placing a spotlight on the issue and its outstanding work in the field.
Mr. Iain Duncan smith, MP.
Sr Imelda Poole, IBVM, MBE, founding member of RENATE said:
Sr Imelda Poole, IBVM, MBE, founding member of RENATE
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