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Photo – The African Delegates at the Talitha Kum Assembly.
“I have never felt so safe as I do in this room”.
These heart-breaking words, spoken by a survivor, for me, and for many others have had a deep and significant impact. In one session at the Talitha Kum Assembly, we were spoken to by a number of survivors (indeed many prefer now to be referred to as thrivers) who spoke so movingly of their experiences whilst being trafficked and enslaved. The Final Assembly Declaration is reflective of their significant input where we can see that Talitha Kum (TK) is being called: “to be more intentionally survivor-centred, survivor-informed, and trauma-sensitive – listening to their stories, consulting them in decision-making processes and putting them at the heart of our networks.”
Amani, (not her real name) told us that despite being free, everywhere she goes can be a trigger. Amani was born into a “beautiful slum” in Nairobi that teaches a resilience that she says was a necessary strength to come through her experiences with a confidence and a resolve to work to ensure that others will not be treated as she has been. Amani, is clear, “to solve the problems of human trafficking in a better way we need hope, passion and lots of compassion.”
Amani explained that she had been gang raped by four men who told her that her school days were over and so she hid her intelligence. She told us: “I didn’t think that I deserved to be here (at the TK Assembly)”, “I was reminded that I too needed compassion.” Amani, was married by 19 and lost her first child to violence and “yet I stayed”, she told us. “The violence never stops.” And of her attendance at the TK Assembly, she said, “I have never felt so safe in my whole life. I have never felt such hope.” Amani told us that “minds like mine never have silence” and from her heart she begged Talitha Kum to “keep this conversation going.”
Amani told us that the reality for most survivors is that they are rarely believed, they are a growing number, but for the most part unfunded and unrecognised. They believe that they are a reminder of a country’s dirty secret and because of this, they are to be hushed and pushed back into a darkened corner. “They don’t find survivors work”, “they don’t see survivors work.” Amani confidently urged those attending delegates “not to forget the grassroots women” and reminded us with her powerful intervention that SURVIVORS can shift the conversation.
When Amani had finished, the entire room was in tears and she sat down while we stood up in appreciation, in awe of her strength and confidence, in solidarity with her requests and out of respect, empathy and compassion. Amani was smiling at the appreciation and the standing ovation. Back in our groups we began our Synodal conversation in the Spirit where those in our group offered that we must “stand strong as a prophet”, “be unafraid” and that we are being called to “challenge and face the consequences, and that for love we must take the risk.”
In one of the final sessions of the Talitha Kum Assembly, Amani was part of a panel to assess what exactly is Talitha Kum’s strength and to offer some reflection of her attendance at this Assembly. Once again, Amani spoke with confidence from her heart and her experience. “We are not starting from scratch.” “My voice is found in this final draft.” “I am affirmed.” “I will sit at that table at the UN and I will not be ashamed to be a survivor.” “One day Kenya will have a president who will be a survivor.” “Talitha Kum, has created a platform for survivors.” “Do not stop with me or with the next girl you meet.” “I will repeat what I have said before: For the longest time in my life, I have never felt so safe as I do now” – Talitha Kum – DO NOT STOP!
Once again, the delegates and attendees including the technical staff rose to their feet to appreciate Amani’s confident, insightful intervention and this time Amani sat in tears knowing that as a “Thriver” she will be the best example to those marked by Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery.
(On Thursday morning we had been scheduled to meet with Pope Francis, and this was to be a quiet highlight for many of us and we were indeed disappointed when this visit was cancelled given that there were so many unwell attending the Assembly. But my disappointment was far outweighed by my encounters with the survivors. How privileged am I! I met Amani!)
(Amani is not her real name and she is not in the photo above).
Brian O’ Toole.
RENATE Law Task Group.