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2022 Assembly

 

RENATE Network Awareness Raising Visit to Norway and Denmark

 

Imelda Poole IBVM & Adina Balan CJ in ScandinaviaImelda Poole IBVM, President of RENATE and Adina Balan CJ, RENATE Board member, travelled to Norway and Denmark from the 3rd of May to the 8th of May, 2016, to meet with Religious, Christian led NGOs, lay and Catholic organisations with a view to heightening awareness about the RENATE Network and explore possibilities for mutual collaboration in the fight against Human Trafficking.
Although there are not many active religious in Norway, Imelda’s contacts opened many doors, which led to an immensely interesting and enriching experience for all concerned.
Full Report available here: RENATE Awareness Raising Visit to Norway & Denmark May 2016

On the Journey of Hope, HT from a Global to the Local Perspective

 

The Croatian Catholic Radio Station, in the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) greatly assisted in raising awareness about Human Trafficking through its recently recorded programme entitled “On the Journey of Hope”, which featured a number of guests, including RENATE member Sr. Stanka Oršolić, Croatian Red Cross worker, Ms. Nives Vudrić and Mrs. Djurdjica Kolarec, President of the Centre for Women in the War (ROSA), Co-Ordinator of the PETRA Network and member of the European Union Civil Society Platform against Trafficking in Human Beings.
Ms. Vudrić spoke of the challenges being faced in the Croatian temporary reception centres for refugees where staff are trying to identify victims of human trafficking. She also spoke of the sufferings endured by the migrants at the hands of migrant smuggling rings on the migrant routes.
Mrs. Kolarec spoke about her experiences over the last twenty years, providing assistance and legal aid to the victims of human trafficking. Of particular note was the increased use of the SOS Hotline in Croatia, for which Mrs. Kolarec is responsible.
The work of RENATE in awareness-raising and support of the victims of human trafficking was interspersed throughout the programme by Sr. Stanka, who spoke at length about RENATE.
It is hoped that more people will be encouraged to take action against human trafficking and that more victims will access the Hotline as a result of this public broadcast.
Tune in to www.hkr.hr where you can hear the full broadcast (archive: Na putu nade, 17th February 2016).
 
Adapted by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person

KANA Journal, Sr. Stanka Oršolić Interviewed about Modern Day Slavery

 

In an interview with Izidora Franić for the Croatian Family Magazine KANA and published in December 2015, Sr. Stanka Oršolić responds to a number of questions about modern day slavery, the work being done by religious throughout Europe to eradicate human trafficking and exploitation and the importance of bearing witness to Gospel values as we minister to others more needy than ourselves.
Full text in Croatian available here: Sr. Stanka Oršolić_Interview for Kana Journal, December 2015_HR
For English translation click here: Sr. Stanka Oršolić_Interview for Kana Journal, December 2015_ENG
 
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person

Sr. Viktorija Šimić Takes a Proactive Lead in Raising Awareness of HT in Croatia

 

Sr. Viktorija invited the Archbishop of her Diocese, Đuro Hranić, to write a letter to all the parish priests in the Diocese, informing them of her work in prevention and awareness-raising about Human Trafficking. The Archbishop positively responded to her offer of being available to visit each of their parishes where she could give a presentation on human trafficking and lead the adoration afterwards, in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
In his communication to all the parish priests, the Archbishop referred to Sr. Viktorija’s congregation and her membership of RENATE. He wrote of her excellent work in having already visited 10 parishes in the Diocese, where she informed the congregations about trafficking in human beings and led the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament afterwards.
To further emphasise the importance of this work, most of content of the Archbishop’s letter to the parish priests has been posted to the website of IKA (Catholic Press Agency, http://www.ika.hr/). The Archbishop has also spoken about the subject when interviewed by the Croatian Catholic Radio.
In light of her parish visitations, the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross Congregation in Croatia (approx. 350 Sisters) have invited Viktorija to share her knowledge and information with them and to lead them in prayer and reflection. Thus, over the period of the congregation’s Annual Retreat, Sr. Viktorija will present her two-hour programme to groups of 30-50 sisters, in afternoons and evenings of the Retreat. Following the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament where the Sisters will offer prayers for the prevention of Human Trafficking, there will be a screening of the film “Ballerina”.
RENATE wish to thank Sr. Viktorija for sharing her story and taking initiative to be proactive in raising the issue of human trafficking. RENATE wishes her, every blessing in her ministry, which is inspirational.
 
Adapted and amended by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person

Raising Awareness about HT at the National Catholic Youth Days in Romania

 

National Catholic Youth Days in Cluj-Napoca
National Catholic Youth Days in Cluj-Napoca, June 2015

Blessed are we when our hearts are pure and free!
We will see the Lord, living Redeemer of our life!
Walking with Him, disciples of His Love and Cross,
we search for Life in holiness.

This was the refrain which 2.000 young catholics and I sang every day between the 22nd – 26th of June at the National Catholic Youth Days in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
We enjoyed a double celebration because this year Cluj was chosen to be the European Youth Capital 2015.
Fr. Daniel Ange, the Founder of Jeunesse-Lumière Evangelisation School in France, the main speaker at the event, spoke to us about Gender Theory, the importance of chastity and real friendships.
At the invitation of the organizers, we as SOLWODI Romania presented a series of workshops on Trafficking in Human Beings. Participants at the workshops had several questions and showed a lot of interest on safe migration, “loverboy” method, video-chat exploitation, labour exploitation and the trafficking of organs, especially for kidneys and ovaries.
Workshop on Human Trafficking by SOLWODI Romania
Workshop on Human Trafficking by SOLWODI Romania

It was a wonderful occasion, filled with a lot of enthusiasm, joy, happiness and new friendships.
Singing at the National Catholic Youth Days in Cluj-Napoca
Singing at the National Catholic Youth Days in Cluj-Napoca

At the end of the meeting we all exclaimed the final greeting:
SEE YOU IN KRAKOW in 2016!
 
Composed by Sr. Adina Balan, CJ

Report from the CODE Red Human Trafficking Awareness Conference

 

Sr. Margaret Gonzi, RGS, RENATE Member, reports on her presentation and attendance at the June 12th, 2015 CODE Red International Conference on Human Trafficking Awareness in Malta, entitled “Now or Never – Act of Love”
The Conference is the initiative of Mr Alec Douglas Bvumburah, the founder of the Cross Culture International Foundation Malta (CCIF).
There is not much talk in Malta about Human Trafficking. So I was pleased that this conference took place. The fact that the Acting President of Malta, Ms. Dolores Cristina, opened the Conference showed the importance of tackling this issue.
I am glad that I was invited to contribute by giving a presentation on, “What the Church is doing to stop the evil done by Human Trafficking.” I focused on Pope Francis’ plea to work together to end this evil and following on from this, I talked about RENATE and how this Foundation operates to bring people together, as well as its mission based on Gospel values. I included the work done by my Congregation, The Good Shepherd Sisters, in addition to various other organizations in Malta such as the Jesuit Refugee Services Malta, Caritas and the Diocesan Emigrants` Commission.
Other speakers spoke on “Child Trafficking from a Maltese Perspective” where specialized training to help child victims was emphasized. A Police Inspector spoke on “Human Trafficking from a policing viewpoint and additional work to be done.” While a University of Malta Law student spoke on “The National Action Plan.” A representative from The Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security spoke on “Progress made in the fight against Human Trafficking in Malta and the way forward”. In this talk the importance of research and compiling statistics was emphasized.
The Conference ended on a positive note with the commitment of all present, to help combat human trafficking.
Agenda of CODE Red Human Trafficking Awareness Conference in Malta
 
Adapted by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person.

 

 

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