Training on Labour Trafficking & Migration for RENATE members has now been organized and will take place in Bucharest, Romania, from Sunday, 2nd November – till Friday, 7th November 2014. We expect 35 participants from fifteen European countries.
Speakers: Mrs. Gina Maria Stoian, Mrs. Iana Matei, Sr. Juliet Ory FCJ, Mr. Florinel Stelian Ionescu. All trainers are experts in their field.
MWL/URAT (Mary Ward Loreto/ United Religious Against Trafficking) have compiled a report on their anti-Human Trafficking training initiatives in Albania, up to July 2014 last.
URAT is an Albanian word which means “bridges” and is an appropriate abbreviation for work which helps to build bridges of understanding and knowledge within the various communities.
So far this year, Mary Ward Loreto and URAT have conducted almost thirty Human Trafficking awareness training seminars with schools and municipalities throughout Albania. Engaging Peace Corps Albania and the NGO “Different and Equal” (works to support women who have been victims of trafficking ), Mary Ward Loreto and URAT have done enormous work in drawing materials together in order that training seminars are both informative and empowering of people, so that they can act to prevent and stop human trafficking.
For further information, please see www.albaniahope.com and the report attached URAT Report_July 2014
A special event hosted by The Medaille Trust to provide information on the issues surrounding Human Trafficking & the current work of the Trust in the fight against this evil: 7th August 2014 in London and 3rd September 2014 in Salford.
Please see flyers for more details: COR Flyer South and COR Northern Flyer
“More than 1,000 individual events combine to make the German Katholikentag a place of bridge-building; on behalf of society, faith and community. Being a Christian means dedicating oneself out of faith in God and Church and Society. Every Katholikentag is a platform for political, social and Church dialogue…”(Bridges of Encounter and Change; Katholikentag 2014).
The above quotation set the expectations for the Katholikentag of 2014. The founders set the bar to a high standard , which was lived up-to throughout the five days of the event.
At Katholikentag RENATE walked, worked and prayed in a place in which faith was enabled, encouraged, modelled, facilitated and taught. Hundreds upon hundreds of stalls and bright white tents were decked out colourfully and plentifully, welcoming and inviting us in, to engage, discuss, share and learn, affording us first-hand and memorable experiences of the diversity of life in Catholicism and in the contemporary Church.
RENATE is a European network of religious and lay people , committed to supporting each other in working against human trafficking and exploitation. RENATE was established to;
At Katholikentag, we came to learn and to share the work of RENATE and to involve more people in this work against the trafficking in human persons. We shook hands with hundreds of people from all sections of the church, shared meals with complete strangers who soon became friends and talked for hours with those equally passionate about Catholic Social Teaching and the journey of faith we are on, young and old alike; a journey of building bridges between God and humankind.
The intensity of such dialogue took us to places where we would rather not go; presented us with challenges and inevitably demanded that we give without limit as Christ himself gave for us.
Despite the incessant rain, we enjoyed the varied programmes of religious music, new music, pop, exhibitions, tours, cabarets, readings and Liturgies – Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Ecumenical.
We braved the rain and joined the thousands celebrating Mass at the University Stadium to commemorate Ascension Thursday. It was a fitting prelude to the presentations and workshops held that afternoon, with our own RENATE-Europe presentation staged from 14.00 to 15.30. The very attentive audience present clearly appreciated that very careful and thorough research had been done in order that a seamless presentation was achieved. The topic was Human Trafficking in Europe and from the Opening Address presented by the RENATE President, Sr. Imelda Poole, IBVM, through to the contribution of various other members of RENATE, there was a clarity of message and content maintained throughout the proceedings. Sr. Dagmar Plum MMM, the RENATE member from Germany, chaired the proceedings and gave input on her work with the Jesuit refugee service in Berlin, alongside other members who shared their local story of work in this field. It both challenged and invited those present, to think about what the presentation said to them as a group of audience members and invited their consideration and agency, in working as a network…the potential and the power of possibility.
We were blessed to have been joined by a five-person, male Acapella, who complimented the presenters with their selections of contemporary music and lyrics, ranging from Cold Play’s “Paradise” through to Leonard Cohen’s “Halleluiah” which concluded the proceedings. It also probably reflected the sheer relief of all five presenters to have completed that afternoon’s work! They did a magnificent job, sensitively speaking about the work of anti-trafficking across Europe and all the while, placing at the centre, the care of the victims.
Jesus revealed much about the reign of God through the Parables that He told. Amongst the most important are those that speak of extending the hand of friendship to others in need. The most obvious one that comes to mind, is the parable of The Good Samaritan. The ministry of RENATE-Europe is to be The Good Samaritan. Others have, and will continue to turn a blind eye and walk away from the challenges of Human Trafficking and the exploitation of one’s fellow human being, but RENATE is steadily sowing the seeds of a courageous stance, to work against Human Trafficking in Europe and maintain the dignity of the human person.
Imagination is the eye of the soul, according to Joseph Joubert and one of the great human realities is that we have the capacity for rich imaginings. It is a powerful source, which is often harnessed for good, but also often harnessed for less laudable purposes. Katholikentag provided us with a rich opportunity for networking and the opportunity to create new relationships, shared learnings and shared language codes with which to articulate our ministry.
…In the community
Everyone has a thousand hands
Everyone has a thousand feet,
No-one ever walks alone. (Patrice Koyo, Cameroon)
Written by Anne Kelleher, Communications Person (pending formalisation of appointment).
5th June 2014
RENATE Members will be present at the National Assembly of Catholics (Katholikentag) in Regensburg, Germany, 28th May – 1st June 2014. More news coming soon.
Link to the event website: Katholikentag
Job Fair: Job Expo 2014 in Nitra, Slovakia, April 29th to 30th 2014.
A Member of RENATE, Sr. Bohdana Bezáková CJ and workers from Caritas Slovakia participated in this event and tried to draw the attention of visitors to the dangerous phenomenon of human trafficking.
Simultaneously with the 4th annual job fair at the Agrokomplex, was an international job fair entitled European Job Days 2014 and also an exhibition of products and services of vocational schools – Young Creator 2014. In the different halls, visitors could find accompanying workshops where experts advised candidates how to be successful at an interview, what to write in a resume or how to identify their own strengths and weaknesses.
About a hundred employers came to the job fair this year and there were many visitors searching for a job. Because of this the job fair was a great opportunity where a member of RENATE, Sr. Bohdana Bezáková CJ and workers from Caritas Slovakia, could inform visitors about the threats and dangers of human trafficking. They developed a campaign called “People are not for sale – Gift Box Slovakia”. The purpose of the campaign, was to spread awareness and to warn people about the possibility of being trafficked, and to present the reality of this phenomena through a static box inside which were authentic stories of the victims and their personal conversations. The more information people can obtain through this campaign, the more it is hoped that people are saved from becoming a victim of modern-day slavery.
The seventh edition of The Jeden Svet (One World) Film Festival took place in Prievidza, Slovakia from 17th till 22nd March. This year its major theme was human rights and one of the specific topics was human trafficking. Participants could watch twenty seven documentaries which included two films about modern day slavery. These were: “Na bulvári zlomených snov” (On the boulevard of the broken dreams) and “0800 800 818” (Slovakian production). On Wednesday, 19th March Sr. Bohdana Bezáková, Manager of Stop Human Trafficking Project and Member of RENATE led discussion about this phenomenon. She unveiled campaign “Ľudia nie sú na predaj – GIFT box Slovakia” (People are not for sale – GIFT box Slovakia) in the House of Culture of Prievidza. This campaign was organised in collaboration with Stop The Traffick, Global OSN Initiative and Caritas. The aim is to draw attention of Slovakian citizens on the issue and inform about potential risks of travelling and accepting dream job offers from abroad.
More information about Film Festival in Slovakia available here: Jeden Svet
Twenty five religious women and co-workers representing fourteen European countries, Albania, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and UK, came together having one ministry in common, that of ‘Combating Human Trafficking’. All are members of RENATE.
We gathered in this small village of Čičmany, Northern Slovakia from East, Central and Western Europe to learn about Catholic Social Teaching, Spirituality of Fundraising and to support one another in ministry. We gathered to listen to stories from respective countries, to celebrate together through liturgy, through cultural trips, to support each other in ministry and to enjoy companionship.
Some participants are front line workers offering shelter and support to women who have been the victims of this horrendous crime and who return home psychologically damaged and penniless. Some run shelters supporting women who were lucky enough to escape from their traffickers. Some of the participants were women who work in source countries and so work on preventative programmes with vulnerable women and children. Other participants work to raise awareness responding to requests for talks in universities, schools, media, youth, and other groups. One participant is a volunteer in the UK with PACE (Parents against Child Sexual Exploitation) formerly known as CROP (Coalition for the Removal of Pimping) and one other participant works with the Roma Community in Slovakia.
It was a most enriching experience both from the input and the sharing of stories. We were delighted to welcome on Monday, Imelda Poole IBVM (Loreto), Albania; Marie Helene Halligon rbp, France; and Mary Patricia Mulhall csb, UK who had returned from the workshop in Rome, called by Pope Francis on ‘The Trafficking in Human Beings.’ We caught their energy, enthusiasm and inspiration when they gave input the following morning sharing a little of what they had experienced at this workshop and of their face to face meeting with Pope Francis. The message of HOPE was palpable. The Catholic Church is active in raising awareness of Human Trafficking but could be far more active given our global network as a Church. Pope Francis thankfully has voiced strong words to both legislators and to those criminals responsible for Human Trafficking. He is calling for people to see anti human trafficking efforts as prophetic ministry. So why should we care and be involved in this ministry? We care because human trafficking involves the most serious exploitation of human rights. It is the trade in and abuse of human beings by criminals to make money. Human trafficking threatens women men and children.
We were privileged to have Fr. Donal Dorr, member of St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, Theologian, active member of the Irish anti-trafficking group APT, and author of many books to lead us with input on the development of Catholic Social Teaching, followed by very engaging discussions. Donal in his own unique way took us through a brief historical outline of key issues in Catholic Social Teaching from 1891 up till now.
We recalled the familiar words of the Popes on Trafficking in Persons:
Pope John Paul II, 2002 said “Trade in human persons constitutes a shocking offence and a grave violation of fundamental human rights. Such situations are an affront to fundamental values which are shared by all cultures and peoples, values rooted in the very nature of the human person”.
Pope Francis, Easter 2013 “Human trafficking is the most extensive form of slavery in this twenty first century” and again in May 2013 Pope Francis said “I affirm here that the ‘trade in people’ is a vile activity, a disgrace to our societies that clam to be civilized”.
Pope Francis was able to voice those strong words because of his own experience living alongside the poor and his listening to priests, sisters, brothers and lay leaders working on the margins of society. We were reminded that ‘prophetic ministry’ is about what we are doing on the ground – we live in the cracks of the institute; we experience the pain of those with whom we are working. “The official social teaching of the Church has its basis in the active prophetic ministry of people and movements on the ground. Theologians reflect on this ministry and express it in words. This feeds back to Church authorities and so leads on to official teaching” (Donal Dorr).
We looked at the prophets and ‘life energy’ in the Old Testament Jer 19:10, Ezek 24:3-6; Ezek 37;1-10; how harsh words of condemnation eventually bring comfort and hope to the people, especially the poor; “for to condemn those who are engaged in exploitation is to bring solace to those who are their victims” (Donal Dorr). We then reflected on Jesus and like the prophets in the Old Testament he challenged the civil and religious authorities of his country. He brought compassion, comfort and ‘Good News’ to those who were sick, disabled, economic migrants or political refugees, women engaged in prostitution and those despised and outcast. He performed miracles, and lived and walked among the poor. In other words he echoed or lived what he was preaching – he followed the prophetic way. He brought great hope to those who were downcast or poor.
We too are asked to bring that same Good News, which will comfort and bring hope to victims of abuse today. Many followers of Jesus down to this present day have felt themselves called to continue this prophetic tradition. “The call is one of inspiring the community to transform society, bringing new life, hope and energy; ensuring that governments and society live by the values of special concern of the poor, as well as justice and reconciliation. As Christians, we believe all of us have been given a share in the prophetic ministry of Jesus. We are called to be prophets”. RENATE and other networks working to bring about an end to this dreadful crime of human trafficking could be named among the prophets.
Donal emphasised the need for us as Christians to develop a spirituality centred on human rights as this touches people’s hearts today. Love and anger are two sides of the same coin – if we have compassion for those who are abused then we have a right to be angry/outraged about Human Trafficking. We recalled examples such as:
‘Respect for Human Dignity’ is key to Human Rights. What we mean by respect varies in different cultures. This initiated much discussion and by the end of the week participants asked to have a training on how to effect cultural change in source and destination countries. This request no doubt will be taken up by the Working Board of RENATE.
Fr. Milan Bubák took us through a journey of See – Judge – Act Process, a social analysis method he used for writing a booklet on human trafficking. He explained the stages of his work on this subject, at the time when he served as the Coordinator for Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation, for his congregation in Rome. It was very helpful and encouraging especially to these who are new workers in the field.
Integrating questions for personal reflection
Fr. Milan made us thinking on all the aspects of two days lectures and discussion on Catholic Social Teaching by integrating questions for personal reflection:
The fact that the venue was in Eastern Europe gave the conference a very particular context. Two Religious Sisters from the Slovakian Conference of Religious, Sr. Justína Kostúrová OP, Sr. Ivica Kúšiková SspS gave a presentation on the horrendous torture experienced by Sisters under the communist regime. We were left spellbound, horrified and full of compassion. Sr. Bohdana Bezáková, our host, gave us an insight of her work in anti-trafficking in Slovakia. She is assigned to this task by the Slovakian Conference of Religious. We had a chance to see some results of her hard work during our visit to one of the shelters.
On our final day Imelda Poole and Ivonne van de Kar introduced us to the concept of ‘The Spirituality of Fundraising’ and led the group through a basic dynamic for preparing the documents for fundraising. The focus for the latter was on the goals and objectives for a given project and the budget. It was a dynamic which led the participants to work in groups and support each other in project development. The energy in the group was tangible and it was moving to see East and West Europe coming together in this work. The focus for the topic, ‘The Spirituality of Fundraising’ was based on a book written by Henri Nouwen called ‘The Spirituality of Fundraising’. The themes ranged from the call to conversion for both the donator and the one applying for funding as all are called to be engaged in this work for justice in the mission which is all part of God’s work in the birthing of the kingdom of God in today’s world. It is a call to humility, to ethical behaviour, truth and transparency. It is a call to networking and working in community for a common goal and objectives leading to a greater good.
Time together as East, West and Central European representatives working in the field of anti- trafficking was time well spent. We valued Donal’s own words to conclude our efforts.
We are called to have: “respect for human dignity
compassion, reverence, tenderness, empowerment,
a sense of solidarity with humans and with the rest of creation
concern for the common good and the right to participate in decision-making”.
City Psalm
The killings continue, each second
pain and misfortune extend themselves
in the genetic chain, injustice is done knowingly, and the air
bears the dust of decayed hopes,
yet breathing those fumes, walking the thronged
pavements among crippled lives, jackhammers
raging, a parking lot painfully agleam
in the May sun, I have seen
not behind but within, within the
dull grief, blown grit, hideous
concrete facades, another grief, a gleam
as of dew, an abode of mercy,
have heard not behind but within noise
a humming that drifted into a quiet smile.
Nothing was changed, all was revealed otherwise;
not that horror was not, not that killings did not continue,
but that as if transparent all disclosed
an otherness that was blessed, that was bliss.
I saw Paradise in the dust of the street.
Denise Levertov
Training Booklets available here:
Day of Prayer for the Victims of Human Trafficking
There are days that you cannot forget, they remain deep within you and shape your present. There are meetings, after which nothing remains the same as before; the new is unknown and unmanageable, filled with tension and stretched between giving and receiving, losing and gaining.
When leaving my mission in Osnabrück (Germany), where I had worked among victims of human trafficking and had run a shelter for them, I did not understand why God was arranging things in such a strange way. I could not grasp it and it seemed to be illogical; my feelings were telling me that I did not want to leave that mission. But in the perspective of faith, to say AMEN appeared to be the only possible thing to do. I did not understand … and yet, even then, somewhere deep inside, I sensed that this was not the end. And so it wasn’t. So it isn’t!
I worked for Solwodi, the international organization “Solidarity with Women in Distress”, where I met young women seduced, deceived, sold and forced into prostitution. Their longing for love, happiness and a better life was badly misused; they were dragged into hell on earth. Constant fear, threats, psychological and physical abuse, rape… all that was only a part of a nightmare they had to undergo. When our paths crossed, those I met had been already freed from the hands of the oppressors; they were safe in our house, but their hearts’ pain and hurt continued. At that time, their struggle was to rebuild faith and a hope that their lives could be regained. I accompanied them through those difficult moments in their feeling of being lost, towards a beginning of a new life. I journeyed with them and witnessed their tears, their joys and success, both great and small. I tried to tell them in many different ways that God, in his love, has the power to make all things new. For me, it was a challenging and yet a beautiful mission… I do not mention it only with sentiment, as now I know more… it was really thanks to the women (I wish I could name their names here) that God let me to find my mission in life. Their broken lives and their effort to look with hope to the future sank into my heart and played an important role. It was those real people and their tragedies that opened my heart to see the pain and suffering of so many modern slaves, robbed of dignity and treated as a commodity, as an object of one’s desires and fancies, as a source of profit, where the fact of what they feel and go through, is utterly disregarded. There where money and consumerism rules, some do not hesitate to go further than we can imagine.
I do not know how God, who is still surprising me, will lead me on, but I can say with St. Francis, “The Lord Himself led me among them”. Or perhaps it might be better to say, “The Lord Himself led them into me”. And He still shows me that there are many possibilities to be close to them and serve them. In God’s perspective, there are so many different ways of being and doing.
It is the memory of heart which becomes a prayer and develops the concern to find different ways to help, that have led me to something new: a prayer vigil, prepared for the European Anti-Trafficking Day, on the 18th of October this year. I had been thinking about what we could do for our suffering brothers and sisters on that occasion and one of my first inspirations was: let us replace the helplessness, which often accompanies us while facing the problem of human trafficking, with… THE POWER OF PRAYER! This is what the world needs so badly.
on European Day against HT in Poland
With the help of my sisters (something I experienced to such an extent) and in collaboration with others, we decided to have a prayer vigil. An evening of prayer for the intention of all people who are abused, forced into prostitution and slave labour, stripped of dignity and basic rights. This was organised in several cities of our Province: Lublin, Zamość and Warsaw (Poland), as well as in Budapest (Hungary) and St. Petersburg (Russia).
Doubtless, raising public awareness on human trafficking, knowledge, prevention and understanding of specific life-stories of victims is a very important part of fighting against modern slavery and helping those who have been affected. Therefore our program associated with the European Day against Human Trafficking, included activities such as articles in the press, radio, educational banners and informational forums in the media. However, most importantly for me and for us on that day, was not to remain at the level of knowledge, discussion or action. We wanted to stay close to the victims and their traumas and to embrace them with our presence and prayer. We wanted to touch their wounds with compassion and care, to look for concrete forms and methods of help, and at the same time to believe that God is able to lead them out of their profound suffering, to redeem what seems to be lost and unrecoverable.
A lot of people answered the call “Be a light in their darkness.” I am pleased and grateful to everyone who joined the common call for the intention of the victims of trafficking of human beings – those who planned to spend the night in prayer and those who spontaneously responded to the invitation of volunteers met in the city. It is the volunteers, young people full of enthusiasm and convinced of the rightness of this matter, who committed themselves in the preparation and co-creation of the evening.
Our work led us to different places… Here’s our sharing
In Lublin a few hundred people participated in the event. We started with the Eucharist at 8 pm in the Holy Spirit Church. Then until midnight there was Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament which was led by FMM sisters and a Gospel Team. The singing was really beautiful, deeply moving and helped us to pray. At the same time, in the streets of the Old Town, volunteers (organized into several groups) approached passers-by and after a short conversation about the problem of human trafficking, handed a leaflet with prayer and information on the subject. They also encouraged people to go into the church and through prayer and a lighted candle express their solidarity with all those who suffer as a result of modern slavery. Many passersby responded very positively to this invitation and joined in the prayer. People lingered at the tables with stories of individual victims and their faces were visibly moved. We finished the prayer at midnight placing all our trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, the One who has the power and the final word, even over the powers of evil. To Him we entrusted ourselves, the victims of trafficking, as well as those who perpetrate this evil. We firmly believe – the last word belongs to God, to Love!
In the Diocese of Zamość preparing for that day started much earlier. In August more than a thousand young people gathered at EXODUS, a diocesan meeting of the young, and for the first time heard the invitation “Be a light in their darkness.” The subject of Human Trafficking and Prevention has also appeared in three rounds of retreat for young people run by the FMM sisters and the week before the event 56 classes in three high schools received catechesis on the subject. The volunteers called through Facebook, rushed in crowds to the streets of cities with the invitation and leaflets. The event took place in Zamość, in the church of the Franciscan Fathers. Many people of different ages – young, old, as well as whole families participated in the prayer. We also had the joy of the presence of Bishops and many Priests of the local church. The celebration of the Eucharist by the Bishop was the highpoint. After Mass, many remained to share in the next part of the evening which included a presentation on modern slavery combined with the testimony of a Sister who worked directly with women forced into prostitution. The evening ended with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Lighted candles brought before the Blessed Sacrament lit up the darkness of the church. We were praying and singing together, united in a common cry to God, who knows the way to the hearts of all who live in anguish and darkness. Words of one of the people will remain long in my mind: “I was very touched that night! Despite the distance, despite the fact that I do not know these people or their faces and names, I experienced a special communion with them. I felt in myself their pain and loneliness in the struggle for life. I have not heard of it before, but … after this evening they will be in my prayers”. Someone else said, “It’s such an important time to be together. God can see their tears as, I believe, He has seen mine today.”
On the 18th of October we were also united with Budapest. FMM Sisters, in collaboration with the Franciscan Brothers, were able to hold an evening of prayer for the victims of trafficking in the center of Budapest. Thanks to this, a lot of people could take part in the prayer of the Rosary, as well as participate in the Eucharist and Adoration. The youth were involved in animation of the prayer. It was unusual to see so many prayerful people, staying such a long time in silence… They asked us, what else they could do for our brothers and sisters who are sold and abused. After the Adoration, a woman who is a member of the Ecumenical Relief Society against Prostitution handed a sister her business card with a note: “I would like to pray with you once again.” Budapest keeps the hope that it will come true.
In Russia, where the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings has not yet been implemented, there are no social initiatives related to this topic. However, on the 18th of October, a group of young people gathered to pray for the victims of trafficking and for their persecutors. In St. Petersburg, in the church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, after the Holy Mass for the intentions of victims of trafficking, the film “Black Swan” was screened. The film, based on facts, tells the story of a missing girl, whose body was found years later. The film is dramatic, tragic- and yet it so much reflects the reality of Russia. Background information about contemporary forms of slavery and an invitation to prayer uttered by Father Cyril (Greek Catholic priest) resounded strongly. At the time of Adoration we were accompanied by a symbol of light – young people, saying their intentions, lighing candles next to the altar. A great hope for a better world was loudly expressed in our prayer, a hope that God’s mercy is greater than human evil. Finally, saying the Rosary, we turned to Mary – Comforter of the Afflicted, asking her to take into her heart all the anguished and the deprived of dignity, so that the wounds of their hearts could be healed.
In addition to the above-named cities, we know that also in other places our FMM sisters and different Congregations held a similar prayer. Other places, other people, but it’s the same experience… Experience of a special communion with those that our world tends to forget in everyday life, not hearing their cry. That day they became close to us in the spirit. The power of prayer lit up probably more than one life in darkness and gave courage and faith that life can be regained!
We ourselves have also gained much – this experience has extended our eyes and hearts.
I hope that this event will not be confined to this one day but will continue in daily prayer and remembrance of contemporary slaves and will become a stimulus to find ways of how to deal with human trafficking and how to help the victims.
Give us, O Lord, the imagination of mercy and to lead us on…
Sr. Joanna FMM, Poland
Catholic Social Teaching Training & Fundraising Training for RENATE members has now been organized and will take place in Čičmany, Slovakia, from Sunday, November 3rd – till Friday November 8th 2013. We expect 25 participants from thirteen European countries.
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