With attendance exceeding expectations, the Union of Major Superiors-Italy, in collaboration with CARITAS Italia, met in Rome earlier this month to consider the issue of human trafficking and all its complexities. 
A training dimension at the meeting focused on the new challenges faced regarding shelter; asylum and new laws addressing the issue of human trafficking in Italy.
A significant topic at the conference was the issue of sheltering the victims of human trafficking together with asylum seekers. Many of those seeking asylum are also in fact, victims of human trafficking and exploitation. By law, both constituents require different and very specific treatments. In reality, limited available accommodation has meant that necessary distinctive accommodation has not been arrived at.
 

 
The conference was especially beneficial as a result of the opportunity provided for the sharing of experiences and best practice. Many of the participants run shelters. Some of the participants are active in street ministry whilst others conduct reintegration and rehabilitation project for the victims of human trafficking. Overall, we got a good picture of the enormous work the sisters in Italy and their co-workers are doing in this field.
A day was dedicated to the importance of networking, with input from the three levels of Religious networking against human trafficking: USMI at the national level (in Italy); RENATE at the European level and Talitha Kum at the International level.
Sr. Monica Chickwe presented a brief history of how RENATE started, its achievements thus far and its aspirations for the future.
A draft of strategic points for a way forward, was achieved by the end of the conference.
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications person.