Our colleagues at RENATE-France, share with us a reflection by Sr. Begoña Iñarra, SMNDA, on her recent presentation on the realities of Human Trafficking, having been invited to speak to the local community at Communauté des Ancelles du Sacré Cœur, near d’Avernes in the département of du Val-d’Oise, in the region of the Île-de-France.
Full article is available at:
https://renatefrance.wordpress.com/2017/04/18/sensibilisation-a-la-traite-humaine-a-avernes/
 Adapted by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Europe Communications.

In March 2017, Polaris in the United States of America, published The Typology of Modern Slavery: Defining Sex and Labour Trafficking in the United States.
Through an analysis of more than 32,000 cases of human trafficking documented between December 2007 and December 2016, Polaris’s research team developed a classification system that identifies 25 types of human trafficking in the United States of America.
Ranging from escort services to domestic work and from the forestry and logging industry to recreational facilities, the Typology claims to ‘’offer a map for taking the next steps in creating a world without slavery.’’
Extensive in content, the team acknowledge modern slavery is complex and diverse and many manifestations have yet to be classified. Survivors, experts and practitioners are invited to share input and help to further refine the classification system for greater accuracy.   
Arguably, this classification may have worldwide applicability.
The Typology is accessible at: file:///C:/Users/akell/Downloads/Polaris-Typology-of-Modern-Slavery.pd
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
 

Oblate of the Most Holy Redeemer Sister Maria Luisa del Pozo has written an informative and interesting research on the ethical considerations to be considered when addressing human trafficking and exploitation of persons. Entitled Interpellation Ethics of Women Who Practice Prostitution, the book describes what is meant by prostitution and trafficking in persons and challenges us to understand and address this phenomenon from an ethical perspective. 
Published by FUNDERÉTICA- the European Foundation for Study and Ethical Reflection, an English translation version is available on the RENATE website. 
Interpellation Ethics of Women who Practice Prostitution.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications

Justa del Sol Hernando, osr. Responsable de Acción Social, Area Justicia y Solidaridad.

NUEVAS FORMAS DE MISION COMPARTIDA: RENATE (Red Europea de Religiosas contra la Trata). Report available at: http://renate-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Justa-del-Sol-Report-on-RENATE-Training-in-the-Netherlands-NUEVAS-FORMAS-DE-MISION-COMPARTIDA-III.pdf

When people ask what can they do to help in the fight against Human Trafficking, I think of the variety of activities underway throughout the RENATE network, which both inform and inspire.
From screening the ‘RENATE film Giving Voice to the Voiceless, to running fashion shows which heighten our consciousness of the exploitation of workers in the clothing industry; from staging the UN GiftBox roadshow through to art exhibitions, films festivals  and world youth events, there is an ever-increasing array of options for pro-active people to become actively engaged in the fight against Human Trafficking.
Another example of positive action is that undertaken by RENATE member, Sr. Viktorija Šimić, from Croatia. Whilst a teacher by profession, Sr. Viktorija leaves no stone unturned when it comes to ensuring her students and their families understand the risks and dangers of Human Trafficking and exploitation.
In the wider Parish and Diocesan level, Sr. Viktorija has already given more than fifty (50) talks at Parish and community level throughout Croatia, on the topic of Human Trafficking and Exploitation.  Her talks are respectfully presented in the cradle of Mass and prayer, where congregations can feel they are making their personal contribution through the power of prayer.  
Sr. Viktorija continues her ministry at weekends, available to all who invite her to share.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.
 

The UN Gift Box campaign underway in Ireland for the month of March, featured in the 4^th of March 2017 edition of The Tablet, as follows:
‘’Lent is traditionally a time of fasting and abstinence when some people give up chocolates and sweets. The people of Drogheda in Ireland may therefore have been surprised to see a giant chocolate box outside St Peter’s Church on Ash Wednesday. The Gift Box is an initiative of the Loreto Sisters and APT (Act to Prevent Trafficking), a coalition of Religious orders campaigning against human trafficking.
This is the first time the walk-in piece of public art, symbolising the way traffickers entice their victims with false promises, has hit the streets of lreland, according to Sr Elizabeth Byrne IBVM. She explained to The Tablet that the month-long awareness-raising tour by the Gift Box is based on an initiative first launched by Stop t-he Traffik (UK) at the Olympics in 2O12. The Irish scheme has the support of No MoreTraffik (Northern Ireland), the Department of Justice and Equality (Republic of Ireland) and the Garda Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. There have been concerns in Ireland over an increase in the number of suspected victims of sex trafficking and forced labour, forced criminal activity, and forced begging, Sr Elizabeth explained. The Gift Box aims to highlight and inform the public about the issue of trafficking and show how Religious orders are helping fight this modern form of slavery.’’   The Tablet, 4 March, 2017. NOTEBOOK Feature.
 Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.

The 61^st gathering of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61), – the annual gathering of States to address critical issues related to gender equality and women’s rights- takes place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 13th-24th March 2017.
This year’s theme is Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work’.
The Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd and the Sisters of Mercy have submitted a joint statement on the priority theme, which is accessible here: English; en Español (4 pps; PDF)
Further information about CSW61 can be found as follows:
Brochure: English; en Español (8 pps; PDF)
CSW61 in focus (stories, photo essays, video, infographic, social media and more).
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications.

 

 
RENATE member, Ivonne van de Kar, founder of Zusterwerk, (Sisterworks Foundation)  www.zusterwerk.nl (English version), a new Foundation in the Netherlands that continued the work of the Religious Against Trafficking, was especially active in organising awareness-raising activities and events in the Netherlands, to honour the International Day of Awareness and Prayer against Human Trafficking on the feast of St. Bakhita, 8^th February. Please click here to read the full report.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
              
              
 

 
During March, APT Ireland (Act to Prevent Trafficking) together with the Loreto Congregation, are bringing the UNGiftBox to a number of cities throughout Ireland. They are encouraged by the numbers of the general public, whose hearts and minds have been touched by the Campaign. Government of Ireland Tainaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, made time to visit the Campaign and wished the team of volunteers every success with the Campaign. The Campaign has featured on the national news RTE Six-One, on the 6^th of March and continues to make news at local and regional levels as it travels around Ireland until the end of the month.
For more, please see www.aptireland.org
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications person.
  
 

In 2016, RENATE members and their organisations in a number of European countries including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, participated in a film entitled Made in God’s Image, commissioned by the Conference of Major Superiors of Women Religious and the Slovak Catholic Charity. The film was produced by social and spiritual documentary filmmaker, Iva KúšiKová, ssps, and is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69PradurR8c. Please click the link to read the full report: https://renate-europe.net/you-choice-abroad-foreigners-survivor-human-trafficking