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Posted on February 12th, 2015 By developer

Light Dispelling the Darkness of Human Trafficking

The First International Day of Prayer & Awareness against Trafficking,

8th February 2015

Individuals, friends, families and communities were united in prayer on the 8^th of February, in response to Pope Francis’ invitation to the world, to honour the first international Day of Awareness and Prayer against Trafficking, on the feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita.
Here are samples of events that took place, throughout the RENATE Network.
In Albania, Bishop Frendo, OP presided over a very special Liturgy which was prepared in honour of St. Bakhita. The theme of ‘’Light Dispelling the Darkness of Trafficking’’ communicated a very hopeful message to all who attended. Prayer cards were distributed and people joined in prayer together. After the ceremony, there were conversations about how to be more proactive in working against human trafficking.
Press releases with resources have been circulated in countries worldwide, by numerous organisations working to combat human trafficking.
These resources, inter-faith prayer services, prayers, songs and intercessions are readily accessible to all who wish to avail of them, on the public domain of the RENATE website: Resources in Various Languages.
In the UK, members of RENATE marked the day by submitting writing on the life and story of Saint Bakhita that featured in parish newsletters. Prayer cards for the victims of human trafficking were distributed at Churches. Silent vigils were observed and prayer groups convened.
Morning Mass, broadcast from Brentwood Cathedral gave special mention to the day in which Fr. Martin Boland gave his homily on Bakhita’s life: Sunday Worship in Brentwood Cathedral, 8th February 2015 (the text is available on screen, beneath the recording).
Caritas Slovakia organised a prayer service on the occasion of the First International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking.This prayer service took place at the Jesuit Church in Bratislava on Sunday, 8th February 2015.
Caritas Slovakia has been helping the victims of human trafficking for seven years and took this opportunity to join the world in prayer for more than 21 million women, men and children who suffer from modern slavery.
The prayer service, broadcast live on the national radio, was accompanied by the songs of Taize, performed by the professional church choir Chorus Salvatoris. Initial introductory words and opening prayers were followed by Psalms and stories of trafficked Slovak victims. Candles of hope were placed on each continent of the world map symbolizing the global extent of human trafficking. Then intercession prayers were read for particular and all victims, but also for traffickers, pimps, government and church representatives as well as for all of us to be able to face the globalisation of indifference with globalisation of solidarity. All participants then lit candles for freedom and dignity. Images of St. Josephine Bakhita printed on a prayer card, were distributed to all participants.
Together with the Dutch Conference of Religious, the SRTV in the Netherlands, devised inter-faith prayer services, comprising prayers, hymns and intercessions to share with the churches and congregations throughout the Netherlands and also Belgium. The national broadcasting station also featured these services, in the Netherlands.
In Romania, the opportunity was taken on the 1^st of February, at the official opening day for the Year of Consecrated Life, to share fliers, prayer cards and information in preparation for the First International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Trafficking, with representatives from all the religious orders present at the official opening. These were then distributed at the parish Masses or prayer services dedicated to the victims of human trafficking in and from Romania.
The award winning Ten Ten Theatre Company in London, premièred a specially commissioned film of the Saint Bakhita story and human trafficking, which was screened in London on her feast day, 8^th February. The twenty-six minute documentary film follows a group of nineteen year old students from Sacred Heart School in Hammersmith, West London, who are on a quest to understand the issue of modern slavery and what they can do to stop it. A two minute preview of the film is available on the Ten Ten Theatre website: Bakhita’s Prayer.
The Ten Ten Theatre Company have worked with The Medaille Trust as well as TRAC UK for the past eighteen months, in the making of this documentary film. Previously, the theatre group produced a one-woman play on human trafficking entitled, This is my Body, written by Martin O’Brien, founding member of the Company.
The Fundación Amaranta in Majorca, Spain, recorded the testimonies of the women they are supporting to recover from trafficking. Through their testimony, their voices will be heard and no-one can turn a deaf ear to their stories.
There are many, many more special events which have taken place and we will feature according as people share their news.

Enjoy the photo gallery shared with RENATE!

Anne Kelleher
RENATE Communications Person

Posted on February 5th, 2015 By developer

Report from the Press Conference in Vatican, 2nd – 4th February 2015

Sr. Imelda Poole IBVM, President of RENATE, was invited by UISG (International Union of Superiors General) to be present and participate in the press release at the Vatican for the worldwide day of prayer against trafficking, the Feast of St. Bakhita. She spoke on behalf of RENATE and also about her work in Albania, which was named Talitha Kum Branch in the official reporting. Her interviews for the Vatican Radio and TV can be found here: www.radiovaticana.va (available as ”Presentation on the Day Against Human Trafficking”).

Links to the official reports:
Light a lamp to dissipate the darkness of human trafficking
CNA_EWTN News by Elise Harris

Posted on January 29th, 2015 By developer

International Day of Prayer against Trafficking, 8th February 2015

Pope Frances has strongly denounced many times the trafficking of human beings, defining it as «a crime against humanity» and calling on all to fight and looking after the victims. Responding to the Holy Father’s plea

Pontifical Council of Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People

International Union of Superiors General (UISG and USG)

Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

promote an

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER & AWARENESS

AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The First International Day will be celebrated in all dioceses and parishes in the world, in the groups and schools . 8 FEBRUARY 2015, the Feast Day of Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave, freed, who became a Canossian nun, and was declared a Saint in 2000.
Click here to read the official Pamphlet 8-February-2015 prepared by the Global Freedom Network.
Courtesy of RENATE Members we can share the following prayers in various languages.
Albanian: AL_ftesa ne shqip  AL_ftesa ne anglisht  AL_Bakhita bookmark
Croatian: HR_Prayer Card translated to Croatian  HR_SVJETSKI DAN MOLITVE PROTIV TRGOVANJA LJUDIMA
Dutch: NL_Gebedsdag Tegen Mensenhandel – PERSBERICHT  NL_Gebedsdienst Dag tegen Mensenhandel
English: ENG_Compilation 8th February 2015 Introduction to Day of Prayer & St. Bakhita ENG_Celebration Saint Bakhita  ENG_Prayer Card in English  ENG_cj_Prayer Suggestions for the Anti Trafficking Day 8th of February  UK_TRAC 8th February 2015 Feast of St Josephine Bakhita for Europe  US_Prayer service INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

French: FR_International Day of Prayer translated to French

German: AT_Gebet um ein Ende des Menschenhandels AT_Gottesdienstvorlage  AT_Presseerklärung  DE_Die Heilige Bakhita
Hungarian: HU_meghívó_febr-8
Italian: IT_Celebrazione Santa Bakhita  IT_pieghevole_italiano  IT_preghiera_italiano  IT_veglia di preghiera

Polish: PL_czytanka  PL_droga krzyżowa  PL_modlitwa o wstawiennictwo  PL_modlitwa wiernych  PL_modlitwy na noc czuwania  PL_czuwanie modlitewne  PL_modlitwa na 8 lutego 2015

Romanian: RO_Bakhita  RO_rugaciunea credinciosilor 8 februarie
Slovak: SK_ikona SK_plagat  SK_TS_Den motlitieb obete OSL- SKCH  SK_UCASTNIK_Den modlitby 8.2.2015
Slovenian: SI_Molitev proti trgovini z ljudmi  SI_Molitev proti TZL – RV
Spanish: ES_cj_Prayer Time on the 8th of February translated to Spanish

Posted on January 14th, 2015 By developer

Appointment of the New Director for Talitha Kum

We would like to welcome and congratulate Sr. Gabriella Bottani CMS who was chosen to lead Talitha Kum, International Network of Consecrated Life Against Trafficking in Persons. At the same time we acknowledge Sr. Estrella Castelone FMA who led the Network for five years.
Click here to learn more about Talitha Kum.

Posted on January 1st, 2015 By developer

NO LONGER SLAVES, BUT BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace on 1st January 2015.
1. At the beginning of this New Year, which we welcome as God’s gracious gift to all humanity, I offer heartfelt wishes of peace to every man and woman, to all the world’s peoples and nations, to heads of state and government, and to religious leaders. In doing so, I pray for an end to wars, conflicts and the great suffering caused by human agency, by epidemics past and present, and by the devastation wrought by natural disasters. I pray especially that, on the basis of our common calling to cooperate with God and all people of good will for the advancement of harmony and peace in the world, we may resist the temptation to act in a manner unworthy of our humanity.
In my Message for Peace last year, I spoke of “the desire for a full life… which includes a longing for fraternity which draws us to fellowship with others and enables us to see them not as enemies or rivals, but as brothers and sisters to be accepted and embraced”.[1] Since we are by nature relational beings, meant to find fulfilment through interpersonal relationships inspired by justice and love, it is fundamental for our human development that our dignity, freedom and autonomy be acknowledged and respected. Tragically, the growing scourge of man’s exploitation by man gravely damages the life of communion and our calling to forge interpersonal relations marked by respect, justice and love. This abominable phenomenon, which leads to contempt for the fundamental rights of others and to the suppression of their freedom and dignity, takes many forms. I would like briefly to consider these, so that, in the light of God’s word, we can consider all men and women “no longer slaves, but brothers and sisters”.
Listening to God’s plan for humanity (…)
Full text available here: Pope’s Message for the World Day of Peace_01.01.2015
Source: The Holy See

Posted on December 11th, 2014 By developer

Posted on December 5th, 2014 By developer

Churches Call on the EU for Action on a Wider Front

COMECE-CEC Dialogue Seminar on Human trafficking
An estimated 800,000 women, men, and children are victims of human trafficking within the EU today. Up to 60% of the victims originate from EU states. The EU and its member states urgently need to implement the legal framework already in place and to intensify cooperation with civil society and church organisations that work with victims at the grassroots level. This was one of the main messages of the Dialogue Seminar organised by COMECE and the Church and Society Commission of CEC in cooperation with CCME in dialogue with the EU Commission on 27 November.
Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, a criminal activity, and a lucrative global enterprise. An estimated 16% of victims are children, and they can be sold for up to 40.000 EUR. In addition to sexual exploitation, forced labour and domestic workers, human trafficking is also taking new forms such as for reproductive purposes, including surrogacy and illegal adoption.
(…)
Click here to read more: Churches Call on the EU for Action on a Wider Front
Click here to find out who was present: List of Participants
Source: COMECE website

Posted on December 3rd, 2014 By developer

5th Annual International Symposium on Preventing Human Trafficking

Delegates from RENATE attended the Symposium in Brussels, on Thursday, 27^th November 2014, where practitioners, senior officials, non-state actors and policy/decision makers at EU, national, regional and local levels in Europe gathered to share best practice, develop and progress multi-agency work and encourage greater political will to properly recognise the needs of all victims of human trafficking.
In addition to raising awareness of the various dimensions of human trafficking and examining the needs of the victims of human trafficking, delegates had the opportunity to consider the following;

European Approaches and Perspectives to tackle Human Trafficking.
Cross-Border Law Enforcement and Prosecution of Traffickers.
Protecting Vulnerable Groups and Raising Awareness; The Need for a Victim-Centred Approach.
Improving Cooperation Amongst Key Actors at International level.

We had the opportunity to exchange ideas and engage in thought-provoking topical debate as the Symposium presented on the need for Policy development through to current research findings in the topic of human trafficking.

Progress on prosecution and conviction remains problematic because of the complex nature of cases, according to Ms. Ieke Vries, researcher at the office of the Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children. A key finding of her research is the centrality of the recruitment process, as this lies at the start of the human trafficking process. The research states that three aspects of the recruitment process must be taken into account in order to guide anti-trafficking measures worldwide;
1. location;
2. the modus operandi of recruiters;
3. the roles and characteristics of recruiters and traffickers in general.
Following discussions, all present agreed the need for, and the value of, greater cooperation between national and international agencies. An additional proposal from the group discussions was the need to raise public awareness about trafficking and improve training in order to better identify victims. It was interesting to note the extent to which criminal groups and traffickers have become much more efficient in the use of technology as a means to recruit and traffic victims. This in turn poses serious challenges to police and other relevant services, but this is not insurmountable. In our work against human trafficking, we can better use the technology to network together, as well as interfacing with and keeping in contact with rehabilitated victims over longer periods of time.
The term ‘’Follow the money’’ was repeated time and time again by Ms. Chloe Briere, Ph.D. Fellow at the Global Studies Institute, University de Geneve. Her research confirms the free movement of persons within and beyond the European Union has created opportunities for increased criminal activities, including trafficking. A crucial value for traffickers is the money they can generate and Ms. Briere’s research indicates the value of minimising the traffickers ability to make money from trafficking as being a significant deterrent.

RENATE Members at the 5th International Symposium on Preventing HT

We all shared Dr. Carrie Pemberton-Ford’s view that our aspiration when working with victims of human trafficking, should be that they deserve nothing less than a flourishing future. Arising from discussions, she told us how easily the issue of forced labour can be neglected because it can be so easily hidden behind the term employment. We also voiced the concerns at the unacceptably poor levels of resourcing and professional supports to victims e.g. interpretation, translation and funding/budgets to first-responders in several EU-countries.
Clear, ethical issues of corporate social responsibility were considered during the day, with questions raised about who will step into the breach now that Mare Nostrum is being phased out. This is likely to be a key issue for discussion at the forthcoming UNHCR meetings on the 10^th and 11^th of December next. We cannot expect private shipping vessels to replace the work of protecting and rescuing, hence the repeated emphasis on constantly improving cooperation and collaboration amongst the key actors at national and international levels.
There was consensus on the importance of supporting the re-integration of victims, as a moral, social and ethical responsibility. ECAT (European Communities against Trafficking) have completed a two-year, EU funded research project which examined what actions are being taken by one hundred companies and businesses in the UK, to socially re-integrate and provide employment opportunities for victims of trafficking. The research will be widely available following its official launch in early December.
Dr. Pemberton-Ford reminded all of us that we should acknowledge the great people (mostly women) on whose shoulders we stand in our work. They have opened minds and eyes for the work that has to be done to fight Human Trafficking.
A key feature of the Symposium was the importance of making contacts, in the expectation that greater collaboration will take place amongst all who work with a common vision. There was a strongly held belief that if we work together, we will work smarter in our efforts to prevent, protect and prosecute. Strengthening partnerships takes time, but for many present, the Symposium provided a powerful opportunity to establish links, the first building blocks for collaboration and cooperation.

Anne Kelleher
RENATE Communications Person
02-12-2012

Posted on December 3rd, 2014 By developer

COMECE Dialogue Seminar: Fighting against Trafficking in Human Beings

The Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community – COMECE – held an evening dialogue seminar on Wednesday, 26^th November, 2014 at which RENATE representatives were present.
The topic of debate was ”Fighting against Trafficking in Human Beings: a Joint Effort”. The key presenters were Sr. Eugenia Bonetti, President of Slaves No More & winner of the European Citizen Prize, 2013; Dr. Aidan McQuade, Director Anti-Slavery International & Ms. Annie Morris, Counter Trafficking and Training Focal Point for the International Organisation for Migration.
The substance of the three presentations was the extent to which we as citizens, need to take more action to heighten peoples’ awareness of human trafficking, how it begins, where it is manifest and what measures need to be taken to stop this crime against the dignity of the human person.
A critical consideration by Dr. McQuade was that NGO’s and governmental institutions are misplaced in their focus on actual victims, when instead his fundamental tenet proposes that we would be better placing our attention on prevention in the first place.
Sr. Bonetti passionately drew from her life-time of experiences working in the area of human trafficking and she repeatedly called upon all present to collaborate together to create a powerful force working against such evil. A particular concern is with those who are held in detention centres, without any supports or possibilities of a future, as a result of the complicated legal frameworks around migration and asylum.

Mrs. Ivonne van de Kar and Sr. Eugenia Bonetti at COMECE Debate in Brussels, 26th December 2014 — Mrs. Ivonne van de Kar and Sr. Eugenia Bonetti at COMECE Debate in Brussels, 26th November 2014

Ms. Morris illustrated the projects of the Counter Trafficking and International Organisation for Migration in the UK, which focused on practical considerations when assisting migrants.
One of the main messages from the evening was the urgency of need for the European Union to implement the existing legal framework and to deepen cooperation with civil society and faith-based organisations which work with victims at grassroots level.
Extensive experiences in advocacy and policy formation informed the conversations, with a call for greater protection of victims of human trafficking, through more pro-active implementation of existing legislation. The evening also lent strength to the call for constant updating of data and legislation itself, to cater for the new forms of human trafficking such as for reproductive purposes, organ removal and illegal adoption.
The need for ongoing financial support of civil society and church organisations was emphasised.
The evening was a wonderful opportunity to network and share in the dialogue amongst faith-based organisations.
Some questions were posed to the accuracy of the numbers of victims mentioned. While it is almost impossible to find exact numbers. Dr. Mc Quade referred to the ILO studies that are likely to give the most accurate numbers.
In response to the complexity and seriousness of the concerns and issues raised during the evening, in the coming weeks COMECE intends to provide the European Union Commission with a compilation of their proposals and recommendations to fight human trafficking.

Sr. Eugenia Bonetti and Sr. Marie Helene Halligon at COMECE Debate in Brussels, 26th December 2014 — Sr. Eugenia Bonetti and Sr. Marie Helene Halligon at COMECE Debate in Brussels, 26th November 2014

* Sr. Eugenia represents the Anti-Trafficking desk at the Italian Conference of Women religious. At a practical level, Sr. Bonetti has organised to have over 200 shelters based in the houses of religious congregations in Italy and every Saturday, she accompanies her sisters in visitation of trafficked women who are now housed in detention centres in Rome, awaiting processing.

Anne Kelleher
RENATE Communications Person
03-12-2014

Useful links:
COMECE_official summary of the evening debate_26th Nov 2014_Brussels
Recordings of Fr. Patrick H. Daly, Sr. Eugenia Bonetti MC, Dr Aidan McQuade, Annie Morris, José Luis Bazán.

Posted on November 27th, 2014 By developer

First International Prayer Day & Reflection on Human Trafficking

Vatican City, 26 November 2014 (VIS) – The Pontifical Councils for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and for Justice and Peace, in collaboration with the international male and female Unions of Superior Generals (UISG and USG) have convoked an international conference for prayer and reflection on human trafficking, tobe held on 8 February 2015, feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese slave canonised in 2000.
According to a press release, “human trafficking is one of the worst examples of slavery in the XXI Century. This concerns the whole world. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) roughly 21 million people, often very poor and vulnerable, are victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation, forced labour and begging, illegal organ removal, domestic servitude and forced marriages, illegal adoption and other forms of exploitation. Each year around 2.5 million people are victims of trafficking and slavery: 60 are women and children. They often suffer abuse and unspeakable violence. On the other hand, for traffickers and pimps, this is one of the most lucrative illegal activities in the world, generating a total of 32 billion dollars a year. It is the third most profitable ‘business’ after drugs and arms trafficking”.
“The primary objective of the International Day is to create greater awareness on this phenomenon and to reflect on the overall situation of violence and injustice that affect so many people, who have no voice, do not count, and are no one: they are simply slaves. Another goal is to attempt to provide solutions to counter this modern form of slavery by taking concrete actions. For this, it is necessary to stress the need to ensure rights, freedom and dignity to all trafficked persons, reduced to slavery. On the other hand, we must denounce both the criminal organisations and those who use and abuse the poverty and vulnerability of victims to transform them into goods for pleasure and gain”.
Source: Vatican Information Service
Press Release 25th November 2014
L’Osservatore Romano 27th November 2014
Other links: in English & in French & in Italian

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