At the invitation of its German member Solwodi, CAP (Coalition for the Abolition of Prostitution)  International hosted its 3rd World Congress in Germany (2-5 April, 2019), a country currently known as “the brothel of Europe”. During the event, German and international abolitionist organisations launched the “Mainzer Erklärung”, an open letter asking German legislators to abolish the prostitution system in Germany and to adopt the Equality Model.

Watch the video of excerpts from the Congress:

https://cap-international.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1e9a5d8a0e3242170e838c6fa&id=861b693ccc&e=8c919d6d82

 Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.

Featured are some examples of art-work created by women participating in art-therapy sessions with a voluntary Art-Therapist student at one of the Medaille Trust Safe Houses in the UK, for whom the Trust is appreciative.

Through the art-therapy sessions, the Trust’s clients have been able to express and explore their experiences. The Trust share that the women have used the sessions to not only depict their journeys but also their hopes for the future.

In the picture depicting the candle with the red cross, the client describes the pillar and the red cross as symbolizing her pain and imprisonment during her trafficking. the flame is the light of the police and ambulance when they rescued her, burning away those who had hurt her. The yellow background with the red and green vines symbolise her current state, where she feels safe, happy and free to flourish.

RENATE are grateful to the Medaille Trust for sharing this insight and hope that other members of RENATE might share examples of their respective art-therapy programmes, with a view to showcasing some of the works on the RENATE website, with the permission of the artists.

Adapted by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.

Following from the first RENATE Country group meeting in Albania in early April, a particular outcome was the suggestion of the possibilities of training for members in the area of Public Relations and specifically in connection with devising reports and other instruments.

In this regard our colleagues at the Arise Foundation- already known to many of us because of their ongoing generous support to Religious working to combat Human Trafficking- will offer training on the topic “Reporting and Effective Communication of NGOs,” supported by Renata.

The training takes place at the Sarajevo Hotel, Kosovo, on 27 June next and runs from 09:00 a.m. to 16:00. Jess Templeman, Head of Programmes and Training at the ARISE Foundation, will facilitate the day.

Training will be conducted in English. For members who have difficulties in this language, simultaneous translation will be provided.

For more on the ARISE Foundation: https://www.arise.foundation/

RENATE colleagues at Psycho-Social Center ‘VATRA,’ Albania, share news of the success of their anti-human trafficking awareness-raising Forum with the students at Himara High school , on the topic of ‘Information on the phenomenon of Human Trafficking: Prevention and identification mechanisms as well as work on the reintegration of victims who have survived trafficking.’

Through active participation and discussions, students not only gained knowledge and insights, they also appreciated how education plays an important part in ensuring youth are less vulnerable to traffickers. The ability to gain employment and be self-supporting is a significant safety to reducing vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation.

These successful forums will continue in September, 2019 in the districts of Fier, Vlora, Berat, Gjirokastra and Saranda.

This is an initiative under the ‘’Youth Engagement in Action for the Prevention of Human Trafficking,’ funded by the small grants programme at the United States Embassy in Tirana, Albania.

More at : www.qendravatra.org.al

A number of online courses are available, which focus on each of the Sustainable Development Goals. The courses are free of charge and are brief in duration, from four to six weeks on average.

17 universities worldwide have worked to create an initiative to educate learners about the SDGs and how they can contribute to achieving them. Coursera is the primary platform where these courses are offered for the general public in the form of online classes with the hope of increasing participation in the work being done towards these goals. The courses often provide a hands-on experience with an NGO or international organization who is working to achieve the SDGs through their work. The participating universities hope to offer a global education on these goals and ways to get involved.

As far as RENATE is concerned, each SDG is relevant, both directly and indirectly. It may be helpful to avail of these courses by way of information and upskilling in preparation for the forthcoming RENATE Assembly at Fátima, Portugal in 20121.

More at: https://www.humanrightscareers.com/un-sustainable-development-goals-courses/

Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.

On 21 May 2019 our colleagues at Amaranta Fundación de Solidaridad commenced teaching the Professional Association of Social Workers in Madrid, an introduction to the course on the Detection of Victims of Human Trafficking.

This initiative promoted by the Community in Madrid within the framework of its Anti-Trafficking Strategy, is giving Amaranta the opportunity to train different Professional Associations in the field of social issues and specifically, to help frontline workers detect and play their part in prevention and combatting Human Trafficking.

Last week Amaranta Fundación de Solidaridad concluded its training with the Professional College of Educators and Social Educators. This was a joint training activity in conjunction with the  Esperanza Adoratrices Project , which facilitates face-to-face praxis, thereby making the online part of the training more dynamic.

Congratulations to our colleagues, on wonderful work to inform, train and enable as many as possible to play their part in the work to combat human trafficking.

More below:

https://www.facebook.com/fundacionamaranta/photos/pcb.2272453872833123/2272453826166461/?type=3&__tn__=HH-R&eid=ARCVpUE2Q-1r1_qjDcRekPR3PUglOJgTeV6ir06WiQSPY9uGuKJyqV9Nh5jx6ZV8-lsiG0ni4GOd3uX7&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAEV2yMM-IC928OpNWdRqzm3jY0T9AU2Zh0fLOrI_5s546RYKOp2wopRT-816q7xSiC9HHxHTF1rslcHRt8oTsemmXF5zfVjRPCVz5hylzLrkEGx258Yhne5NLQydSWYCKkhnyVrZ6MpfYTWaqOD8kR2rUn-JJz3lpIEIbEPGe0rzH9hbrFFSre2xIhXuH3_yZOAr9CmRydiH581DPro0ynBx4hl5XnsI4NYS-sHoThUT2j33ZcoyjB6_hmY2MTjpQ6_rNkbDz3ytkL5HQQ21cLULS0KM1aQ5bxe9CaVbOcrAvRpWQnLgEi1azFrDS3JF0MkDAL2VBohfOjgKIfJD0P1Q

Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.