Prayer is an essential part of our daily lives as we work to end Human Trafficking and Exploitation. Developing the RENATE network as a powerhouse of prayer calls upon each of us to contribute and sustain one another. A virtual House of Prayer is one concrete way in which we can all be joined in prayer together.

Work continues apace on updating the House of Prayer section of the RENATE website.

There is a new addition to this section of the site, with the introduction of a Daily Dias, in the form of a virtual Prayer book, where you can ‘turn the pages’ and enjoy a daily Dias.

Simply follow these steps:

log on to renate-europe.net

Open the link under ‘House of Prayer.’

Click on the ‘Pray Once a Day’ bar on the right side of the page.

The virtual Prayer Book will then open in the centre of your screen. To enlarge it, just double click on the book to see full size.

We hope you enjoy this new dimension to the website and encourage your engagement and your colleagues also,  with the House of Prayer. 

Looking for daily Lenten Reflections that draw you in and stay in your heart for the day? Then look no further than the daily Lenten Reflections created by RENATE member Marie Hélène Halligon, OLCGS.

Marie Hélène’s daily Lenten Reflections can be accessed on her FaceBook page below: 

https://www.facebook.com/mariehelene.halligon?__tn__=%2Cd%2AF%2AF-R&eid=ARBUuC28jIH08AszwH86QwlaVLnOMgMFy-8U9leD3945SnZzFaTtnL6uCf4BcuvxFFvthZI5LrCGElUA&tn-str=%2AF

The Congregation of our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd became affiliated with the United Nations as a Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) in consultative status with ECOSOC in November 1996.

The purpose of this affiliation is to further our mission of reconciliation, particularly in its orientation toward girls and women. Through this means of collaboration we work to bring about change in whatever conditions condemn others to a marginalized life.

We are also member of the RENATE network and could use this network to deliver a very meaningful oral statement to the report of the Special Rapporteur on child sale and exploitation of children. Within the 43th session of the Human Rights council, it is possible for a limited number of NGOs to answer directly to the report of a Special Rapporteur, and we got this opportunity.

The organization “Right to Childhood”, based in Ruse, Bulgaria, also a member of the RENATE network identified several points, which need to be improved in Bulgaria, to tackle the trafficking of children. Because of the short time, we had to deliver our statement, we addressed the situation, that in Bulgaria the “Juvenile Delinquency Act”, a law from 1958 punishes children for a behavior which adults are not punished for, such as begging or wandering. Children, who were victims of trafficking often show this behavior as a result of their trauma, and are therefore punished for a behavior which should be treated professionally as a result of trauma, but not as criminals. Therefore, the current situation in Bulgaria where social and psychological professions are unregulated, firstly needs regulation and secondly, good training and be in line with international standards.

This problem, what was identified by the organization “Right to Childhood”, was equally mentioned in the report of the Special Rapporteur on child sale and exploitation of children. So we could affirm this report through the experience of our work in the field in Bulgaria.

I value this as very effective networking, and our members from Bulgaria could already use the statement and the video, which is available on the UN’s Web.TV to start their lobby work with a group of fieldworkers and even politicians. We wish our colleagues in Bulgaria every success and hope, that very soon, children in Bulgaria, who are victims of trafficking will not be punished for acting out their trauma but instead, will be helped by highly educated professionals.

Link to the short video

https://www.facebook.com/GSIJP/posts/1403945659793160?__xts__[0]=68.ARAyC1Amqt0kb_s5chOxrvh30YSfIjTE9QNu66RyXgHKHItF_M0meUjvcRfh3a8W-pHP4j8pFnLLaHMvjo9QqIWvVZGKZRPSrgjJAF7Q8Elqp9tqBwRCf8gkgudT-FSlMI5yeq_EO6mt63trCWpxoK9uTHTKky3JtPiVT3_aZLCVsfUD7w4ChTYrkN3MIdvWQzdhOshnHcD1kUn5uQpcY6TaEujW6BpaVd6vfhW0LioePjpPJN_hxyerf8r3hLEHuID38MmKcrTgt9ept6lGoEA4wE69zuv5p1ErmuP4IzpCob3DMcAuVi8wXNMZk-KMIb3t8CSBTvEgI3qc0nbUoRviYldeTTd32-p6-Q&__tn__=C-R

Link to the full report video

http://webtv.un.org/search/id-sr-on-sale-of-children-16th-meeting-43rd-regular-session-human-rights-council/6137907921001/?term=&lan=english&page=2

Link to the second part of the session, with the last memberstates speaking and all NGO interventions

http://webtv.un.org/search/id-sr-on-sale-of-children-contd-17th-meeting-43rd-regular-session-human-rights-council/6137944803001/?term=&lan=english&page=2

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020

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/