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 October 31st, Mary Ward Loreto Albania had a very inspiring working event in partnership with St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, as part of the Research being conducted on “Enhancing Cultural Competence and its impact on Human Trafficking (UK & Albania)”. The director of the Bakhita Centre, Dr Carole Murphy joined those at Mary Ward Loreto for four days and gave input at the event presenting the research with Dr. Ada Braho, lead person in the research, and Ms. Eva Karra, also working at the Bakhita Centre on this research. The research paper will be ready for publication in the New Year. We look forward to sharing it with you.
In memory of Lea Ackermann – Solwodi founder (86), deceased
The religious and women’s rights activist Lea Ackermann died on October 31 2023, at the age of 86. This was announced by the association “Solidarity with women in distress” (SOLWODI), which was founded by her.
Sister Lea has worked for women for over 30 years and freed hundreds of people from forced prostitution.
Excerpt from an article from the Episcopal Press Office:
Lea Ackermann was actually sent to Kenya by her order “Mission Sisters of Our Lady of Africa/White Sisters” in 1985 to train teachers. But she wanted to do something for people who had absolutely no chance. She turned to fighting poverty driven prostitution and campaigned for girls and women who, out of need, sold their bodies “for five cents for five minutes”. She founded “Solwodi” and built a network of advice centers and shelters in Germany. When she realized that forced prostitution and the slave trade in girls and women were also flourishing in Germany, she continued her fight there too. As a current case, she presented the fate of a 16-year-old African girl who was kidnapped to Germany and had to work in a brothel. She confided in a policewoman and came to Solwodi, as one of many thousands of women alone in Germany who turned to the aid organization for advice and protection. There are now also contact points in Romania, Hungary and Austria and “Solgidi” (gi = girls) for the daughters of the women are looked after by “Solwodi”.
Solwodi’s main tasks are still informing the public, providing concrete help for girls and women, for example by accompanying them on official visits or arranging German courses and legal advice, as well as setting up shelters.
From the obituary of the “Solwodi” association:
With Sr. Lea, SOLWODI loses a strong personality and charismatic founder. It is thanks to her that issues such as prostitution and gender-based violence first came onto the agenda in the late 1980s. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that the group of particularly vulnerable women, i.e. women with a migration or refugee history and who have experienced violence, receive support and have a voice. The fact that SOLWODI is now represented at 18 locations with 21 specialist advice centers and is a contact point for over 2,000 women every year is the great achievement of a lifetime.
Sister Lea Ackermann is buried in Trier. May she rest in peace in her Eternal home.
On 31 October 2023 in London, Farringdon, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP and Sir Mo Farah drew global attention to the exceptional contribution of Catholic sisters to the anti-trafficking movement, at the inaugural Sisters Anti-Trafficking Awards.
Caritas Ukraine continues its work for prevention of human trafficking, raising awareness and protection of survivors. In October to European Day against human trafficking Caritas conducts many different information and awareness events. Thousands of Ukrainians were informed about risks of trafficking and prevented from this crime.
You can see more about our events by clicking on each of the links below!
In Kyiv city there was a walking march Against human trafficking and proactive digital screening of potential survivors under slogan “Awareness will save lives!”.
In the Ivano-Frankivsk region there were a lot of events organised: A charity run “Be free: say STOP to human trafficking in Ukraine”, a bike-ride for children, street action and more.
On October 18, we celebrate the European Day against Trafficking in Human Beings. On this occasion, the September issue of the monthly “Różaniec” published an article by Mrs. Urszula Wróbel, “The Gehenna of Slaves”, in which Sister Anna Bałchan talks about the activities of the Bakhita Network and the PoMOC Association. We encourage you to read it, but also to pray for all people affected by the misfortune of slavery in the modern world.
Gehenna of Slaves
Slavery is not only colourful stories from ancient history. Today, human trafficking is also flourishing in Europe, its cruelty, terrifying.
Marcin decided to go to Great Britain – like many other young Poles, to “earn better money”. He quite easily found an agency that dealt with organizing and financing these types of projects, and he was supposed to work in a restaurant. Upon arrival, it turned out that the offer was no longer valid. In return, he received another offer – one that he couldn’t refuse. And since he had to pay off the debt for the plane ticket to England, he agreed to the new conditions. The intermediaries placed him in a house with other people from Poland who were in a similar situation. He was found a job in a bakery, but the money he earned there was taken away under the pretext of covering the debt, accommodation, and food. His attempts to resist always ended in beatings. He was repeatedly threatened with death if he decided to report this practice to anyone. He was also forced to steal.
Finally, Marcin received help from a British institution that enabled him to return to his home country. In Poland, he was cared for by people from the Bakhita Network. Thanks to this help, Marcin started working on fair terms, but above all, he found peace and mental balance.
HELPING THE VICTIMS
This is a clear example of human trafficking. The nationwide Bahkita Network was established to combat human trafficking and provide assistance to those harmed by this practice. Its members are people belonging to various religious congregations, associations, as well as lay people devoted to this cause. Currently, the Network is represented by approximately 19 religious congregations operating within the Charitable Works Commission of the Conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious Congregations in Poland. The name of the organization comes from the name of a nun named Josephine Bakhita, who herself was a victim of human trafficking as a child. In 2015, Pope Francis announced her liturgical commemoration – February 8 – as the International Day of Prayer and Reflection on the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings.
BLOODY-CHILLING STORIES
As Sister Anna admits, slavery takes many forms today. – Slavery does not only exist somewhere in Africa, Asia, far from us. You can fall victim to this practice in the centre of Europe, in a large city – she warns. Extreme situations involve sexual abuse. Women go out looking for work and are forcibly detained in brothels and drugged. Slavery, which Marcin experienced, is also not uncommon. In exchange for hard work, people are forced to live in terrible conditions and are deprived of identity documents, reports Sister Anna. Moreover, as she admits, such dramas take place not only outside our country. We recently helped people who experienced such slavery in Poland. These people, were foreigners from the East and African countries who were exploited by the international
mafia. They were brought to Poland and lured with high salaries, and then they went through traumatic ordeals.
EDUCATION AND PREVENTION
People struggling with unpaid debts are also potential victims. – We know stories of people who were forced to beg in exchange for repaying their debts. However, even though they managed to obtain a specific amount every day, the debt incurred did not decrease. People who are helpless in life and have certain deficits are often exploited in this way. They are easier to manipulate, easier to exploit.
Young people who are not aware of the threats that await them are also at risk – explains Sister Anna. Therefore, nuns working within Bakhita are trying to reach young people to warn them about the threat. It is therefore very important that we have appropriate knowledge. We need to constantly update it, especially regarding new techniques used by human traffickers.
We also learn how to reach potential victims. Wherever they serve, the sisters talk to young people who receive various job and travel offers. Nuns pay attention to potentially dangerous situations. It’s a form of prevention. We also run preventive programs in schools, says Sister Anna.
HEALING THE ENSLAVED
On the other hand, Bakhita tries to help people who have already fallen victim to human traffickers. It is important to be able to accompany suffering wisely and thus help deal with trauma, Sister Anna explains. Such presence, as it turns out, is priceless. “I think that about 90 percent of women who are under our care return to normal life. Of course, the injuries remain for many years, but they can now function in society. We maintain constant contact with many people. It makes us very happy when we see how, thanks to God’s care, they manage to function normally and even enjoy life”, she emphasizes.
Of course, an integral element of the support provided is prayer for both the victims and the perpetrators themselves. There are currently 15 people in the PoMOC Association founded by Sister Anna. Women, including those with children, live with the sisters who serve here. Their stay with us usually lasts 9 months and is completely free of charge. During this time, these people receive spiritual and emotional support. They are looking for a job and can save for a new start. This is a great opportunity that many women take advantage of, says Sister Anna.
Congratulations to our friends and colleagues at MWL Albania on the release of their semi-annual report January 2023 – June 2023. This comprehensive and inspiring report can be read in full here
On the 4th October 2023, Pope Francis released his 6th exhortation, intended to follow up on his 2015 encyclical, “Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home.”
Laudato Deum, meaning “Praise God”, calls on us to step up to tackling the climate crisis and take action before it is too late. It is an urgent call, recognising that time is running out and irreversible damage has already been done.
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