A very special honour has been bestowed upon RENATE member Sr. Viktorija Šimić, who has
been invited and appointed by Archbishop Đuro Hranić of Đakovo-Osijek Diocese, Croatia,
as the Archdiocesan Commissioner for Combating Human Trafficking.
This honour has been richly deserved by Sr. Viktorija, having dedicated her time to youths in
parishes, schools and local communities in Croatia, raising awareness about human
trafficking and exploitation and thereby advancing prevention and protection in the process.
We salute you, Sr. Viktorija, the honour bestowed upon you also brings great honour to the
RENATE network and is an inspiration to what is possible with the support of church.
Here follows a transcript of the Archbishop's letter published on the web site of the
archdiocese of Đakovo-Osijek.
"ĐAKOVO (TU) – Archbishop Đuro Hranić of Đakovo-Osijek has appointed Sr. Viktorija Šimić
from the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross as the archdiocesan
commissioner for combating human trafficking from 1 September 2025 for a term of 5
years.
The area of the Đakovo-Osijek Archdiocese is a frequent transit area and thus a (potential)
source of victims of human trafficking. In order to contribute to a greater degree of Church
co-responsibility for respecting the dignity and rights of every human person and combating
human trafficking, Sr. Viktorija is ready to hold lectures, workshops or prayer meetings on
the above-mentioned issues for groups of young and adult believers and children in the
seventh and eighth grades of elementary school, thereby making the Archdiocese more
strongly involved in the already existing efforts to combat this “modern form of slavery.”
Sister Viktorija has been actively involved in the issue of human trafficking since 2007 and is
a member of RENATE, the European Association of Religious Networks in the Fight Against
Human Trafficking and Exploitation, and for several years she has been very involved in
raising awareness about the evil of human trafficking and preventing it in the area of the
Đakovo-Osijek Archdiocese.’’ (Press Office).
