A unique collection of stories that give hope in the face of adversity and illustrating how we each have the capacity and power to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApyDVLkXH0c
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
Until recently, responding to Human Trafficking was considered the task of the police. It is now recognised that healthcare providers have the potential to play a crucial role in human trafficking prevention, identification and intervention.
Trafficked patients are often unidentified due to lack of education and preparation available to healthcare professionals at all levels of training and practice. The medical sector is increasingly open to opportunities to attend training and awareness-raising regarding human trafficking.
In Albania, MWL staff have just completed presenting an intensive series of seminars on Human Trafficking – identification and action , amongst the medical professions in Tirana, centring on the provocative question ‘’Who is in your waiting room?’’
Areas covered in the seminars were: What are the health risks associated with Human Trafficking?; How can healthcare professionals help to prevent Human Trafficking?; How do Human Trafficking victims use the healthcare services?; What roles can healthcare professionals play in treating victims and survivors?; What resources are available to victims?; What are the healthcare needs of victims during recovery?
While human trafficking is a complex and pervasive human rights issue and crime, healthcare is one of the few places where victims encounter a professional in a safe setting and possibly have an opportunity to consider options to escape the trafficking situation.
It is likely that training and working with the medical sector will broaden and deepen RENATE’s reach in its efforts to combat and end Human Trafficking and Exploitation.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
RENATE members at Fundación de Solidaridad Amaranta send us news of a two-day training programme on detection of child victims of trafficking. The training took place this past week in Guadalajara, addressing a team of twenty five professionals from the Social Welfare Ministry of the Junta de Castilla, La Mancha, Spain.
Apart from the training itself, it was an opportunity to build networks and capacity amongst these teams committed to the human rights of minors, victims of trafficking. The two days also provided the opportunity for each to share from their daily experiences of contact with vulnerable groups. Fundacion Amaranta are especially grateful for the collaboration with Ms. Maria Del Mar Guerrero, of the General Directorate of Families and Minors.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
In the evolving work to combat and bring an end to Human Trafficking and Exploitation, RENATE members make every efforts to avail of upskilling and training sessions which enhance existing skills and competencies.
To this end, RENATE members at SOLWODI Romania share photos from a recent course on Project Design and Project Management, organized by the ERSTE Academy Foundation. It was a valuable opportunity to learn new work strategies and establish common activities. We are grateful.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
Critical components of anti-human trafficking work are activities centring on awareness-raising and capacity building. In Albania, Mary Ward Loreto On May 5th, 2019, MWLW Organized a Social Activity with the Girls from Shendelli, Albania.
After an intensive school year and a successfully completed English course organized by MWL, the group of girls in Shendelli participated in a social activity. The girls got a chance to visit the city of Permet. It was their first visit to “the town of roses” as the locals call it. The city is rich with cultural heritage and monuments to its history.
New challenges await these wonderful girls, some of whom are preparing to take their school examinations. As a result of their time together acquiring new skillsets and strengthened in their bonds together, they go out into the world confident, better informed and committed to supporting each other into the future.
A word from our President:
The last six months have resulted in much change in the working strategies of RENATE. Self-managing groups focusing on various aspects of the work against human trafficking are now in place and these include: RENATE Advocacy, Awareness Raising, Capacity Building and RENATE Assembly 2021.
RENATE Country Groups are also beginning to meet on a regular basis, supporting each other in collaboration with the European network. Data collection has been one of the main issues to measure the extent of the work and the depth of the crime as witnessed by the members. This report has a new look which reflects this focus. It is an important shift in the strategy for combatting Human Trafficking.
The Research on Child Trafficking now published and launched in the House of Commons in the UK, in January 2019, is another illustration of the focus on research and the details needed to highlight the extent and the manner of the crime across the continent.
These are small gestures for combatting what we know is an ever-growing and super intelligent trade of people by ever growing numbers involved in world-wide criminal gangs. These criminal gangs are super achieving their goals, more than the most highly intelligent law enforcement agencies across the world who strive to bring the perpetrators to the courts for conviction. What is going wrong? Why is law enforcement failing to achieve their goals?
“We hope to speak out more vocally over the upcoming five years as RENATE moves out from its strong base to work more tirelessly to combat human trafficking by 2030…”
The June issue of the STOP Trafficking Newsletter places the spotlight on the story of Survivors, in order that we may learn. The issue highlights issues affecting trafficked persons and what they see as helpful in their journey towards healing.
The stories range from experiences at the hands of traffickers to abuse perpetrated by family members who sold their relatives for the purposes of sexual exploitation. And while none of the stories are easy to read, each one offers insights into how best to work with and support survivors of Human Trafficking. Each story gives cause for hope.
The following are the component aspects of the Newsletter:
A victim remembers; A victim finds help; A victim struggles to overcome;
The role of Professionals in addressing the needs of Women Suffering Oppression.
Survivors contribute to Programme effectiveness; An outline of the Complex Experience care Model (CECM); Trafficked survivors identify what was helpful in their transitions;
Trafficked survivors identify what more they needed in their transitions; A series of book reviews and information websites.
Download the Newsletter at: http://www.stopenslavement.org/
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
The inaugural SDG Gender Index, developed by the Equal Measures 2030partnership, found that 2.8 billion women and girls currently live in countries that are not doing enough to improve women’s lives.
The index, launched at the Women Deliver conference in Vancouver, will be updated in 2021 and at regular intervals until the 2030 SDG deadline. Data is drawn from UN agencies, the World Bank, NGOs, thinktanks and from the consultancy firm Gallup.
Europe and North American countries topped the index, while the bottom was dominated by African states. With just 11 years to go until 2030, nearly 40% of the world’s girls and women – 1.4 billion – live in countries failing on gender equality.
Of particular concern for those involved in compiling the index was that more than half of countries scored poorly on efforts to achieve SDG 5, the much lobbied-for standalone goal to end gender inequality and empower women. The goal contains specific targets to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, end female genital mutilation and child marriage, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, and uphold women’s reproductive rights.
Equal Measures 2030 is a partnership of civil society and the private sector, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the International Women’s Health Coalition, KPMG, Femnet, Plan International and Women Deliver. It was set up in 2016 to provide women’s rights advocates with the data they need to hold governments to account for their SDG commitments.
Download the full report at : https://data.em2030.org/2019-global-report/
Adapted by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
In its International Annual Report, 2017 – 2018, the Australian Red Cross International present an overview of the issue of Forced Marriage, the contributing factors to this continuing phenomenon and the strategies young women use to avoid forced marriages. The findings are equally applicable to Europe and elsewhere.
The report finds that pressure on families is a driver of forced marriages, a factor directly applicable across the Roma culture in Europe. Additional applicable factors include (1) inter-generational conflict which plays a significant role in causing relationship breakdown and (2)lack of communication about expectations before marriage.
Drawing on information, opinions and advice, key messages and recommendations emerging from community learnings are as follows:
Across many communities, there are members are applying appropriate and effective strategies to negotiate good outcomes and find solutions to this issue. When explored, understood and strengthened, these community-led strategies and approaches have the potential to support and strengthen broader government and sector initiatives and create a space for s stronger and more inclusive response.
Full report available at www.ecpat.org
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
This past week has seen the official opening of the Mary ward Loreto Advice and Service Centre in Tirana, Albania, launched by Garry Smith, CEO of the Medaille Trust in the UK.
This is the latest partnership project between Medaille and the MWL Foundation in Albania. The centre gives advice and support to those who are the most vulnerable and at risk of being trafficked in the Albanian capital.
Medaille and Mary Ward Loreto have been working in partnership since 2013, as the Medaille Trust realised the need to support those who are victims of modern slavery in Albania and help to prevent trafficking from countries of origin. Albania is the UK’s biggest source-country of adult victims of modern slavery – in 2018 730 of the 3,856 adult victims referred to the National Referral Mechanism were Albanians (18.9%).
Since 2014, Mary Ward Loreto have provided counselling via SKYPE to Albanian victims in Medaille safe houses in the UK.
The Medaille Trust and MWL, however, are not resting on their laurels. They spent some time together discussing the latest trends and how to continue to work in partnership to support the many efforts being made to prevent people being trafficked from Albania into the U.K.
Adapted by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
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