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2022 Assembly

 

Tag: Human Trafficking

Posted on October 18th, 2019 By

Publication of the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s Strategic Plan 2019 – 2021

 

Publication of the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery
Commissioner’s Strategic Plan 2019 – 2021
(published today 18 October 2019).

Dame Sara Thornton was appointed as the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner by the Secretary of State following consultation with the Scottish Ministers and the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland. She took up post at the beginning of May 2019 and her appointment is for three years.

The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner has today published her Strategic Plan for 2019 – 2021. The Strategic Plan has been laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State (Home Secretary) in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act (2015).

The Strategic Plan outlines the objectives and priorities for the period 2019 – 2021 and identifies matters on which the Commissioner proposes to report.

There are four priorities:

  • Improving victim care and support
  • Supporting law enforcement and prosecutions
  • Focusing on prevention
  • Getting value from research and innovation

Read the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s Strategic Plan 2019 – 2021

Posted on June 8th, 2016 By

RENATE at Katholikentag in Leipzig: "Give a Voice to the Poor and Oppressed"

 

On Wednesday, the 25th May 2016 in Leipzig, the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) inaugurated the 100th Katholikentag or Catholic Day. This popular festival brought together Catholics, as well as people of other religious traditions, in dialogue with political, cultural and business leaders.
More than 1000 exhibitions, performances and talks took place and more than 40.000 people participated, over the five days of the festival.
RENATE was present with an information stand and organized a public discussion, with a view to sharing information about the work of RENATE and awareness raising about human trafficking.
A comprehensive report from this event is available here: RENATE at Katholikentag in Leipzig_report by Sr. Andrea Tillmanns RGS
Please see also an interview with Sr. Andrea Tillmanns by Tobias Böcher, Journalist with Steyler Missionare.

Posted on June 8th, 2016 By

New Scientific Work on Human Trafficking Released in Lithuania

 

Natalja Kurčinskaja, Director of the Missing Persons’ Families support centre, sends us good news!
In the absence of a rehabilitation centre for victims of human trafficking in Lithuania, a research report on human trafficking in Lithuania, has recommended that the first such centre be opened and administrated by the Missing Person’s Families Support Centre, at a new premises. 

In a study which was conducted from 02-03-2015 to 30-12-2015, this new scientific work considered the issues relevant to the National Human Trafficking Prevention and Control model in Lithuania. The study also considered the possibility of future models.
It explored the scope and main causes of the human trafficking phenomenon in Lithuania, in relation to the risk groups. The concept of victimhood was explored from the context of  statutory regulation applicable to both the European Union and Lithuania.
The study used a systematic approach to exploring the foundations of the National Human Trafficking Prevention and Control model, comprising three main systems – a separate and specialized program for human trafficking prevention and control; an operators system and a co-ordination system.
Specifically, the first system dealt with strategic executive oversight over objectives and tasks. The operators system offered an  oversight control system over various subjects dealing with human trafficking and the last system related to parliamentary oversight and recommendations for efficient legislation. It is beleived that the structure of this model justifies a full cooperation between national and municipal subjects.
Poverty, lack of education, social vulnerability and exclusion are powerful risk factors which often precondition victims to be lured into trafficking and later sold off. Added to this is the lack of information on victims and the lack of systems which facilitate the exchange of important information.
Summary conclusions and recommendations:

  1. Develop a new Human Trafficking Prevention and Control programme, in parallel with a Public Security Development Programme. Special emphasis be placed on the prevention of trafficking of children and minors.
  2. Amend legislative instrument ATPK 1821, to include new regulations covering prostitution and buyers of sex.
  3. Ensure continued research and studies relating to evolving methods of human trafficking and with a view to identifying new risk groups.
  4. In the absence of a rehabilitation centre for victims of human trafficking in Lithuania, it is recommended the first such centre be opened and administrated by the Missing Person’s Families Support Centre.

 
Source: Summary of “PREKYBA ŽMONĖMIS IR SISTEMINIS POŽIŪRIS KAIP PROBLEMOS SPRENDIMAS” by Dr. Igoris Bazylevas and Virgilijus Pajaujis, p.92.
Full study in Lithuanian language available here: PREKYBA ŽMONĖMIS IR SISTEMINIS POŽIŪRIS KAIP PROBLEMOS SPRENDIMAS An English version is proposed for a later date.
 
Information shared by Natalja Kurčinskaja, Director of the Missing persons’ families support centre
 
Adapted by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person
 

Posted on May 31st, 2016 By

The Religious & Migration in the 21st Century: Extra Documents

 

Further to the post on the website about the Conference: The Religious and Migration in the 21st Century, the organisers have kindly shared with us the formal documents associated with the Conference. Comprising both Word documents and Powerpoint presentations, there is a wealth of information and inspiration to be found in them.
Read and enjoy!
Rome Eng Overview PP Mon, Feb 22 – 24 Roma_EN
Rome Eng PP Migrants&Media in Italy
Rome Eng Summary feedback THE RELIGIOUS AND MIGRATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY Summary and reflection
Rome French Summary Feedback Religieux et migration au 21ème siècle, French
Rome Italian Migrants and Media in Italy Immigrati reali e mediali
Rome Italian Rapporteur Mon, Feb 22 – 24 Roma rapporteur
Rome Italian Summary feedback I religiosi e la migrazione nel XXI secolo, Italian
Rome PP Eng The Advocacy Strategy Mon, Feb 22 – 24 Roma_EN
Rome Spanish Summary Feedback LOS RELIGIOSOS Y LA MIGRACIÓN EN EL SIGLO 21
Rome UN English statement post 2015 development agenda
Rome UN French statement post 2015 development agenda
Rome Welcome Address – Religious & Migrants Conference (Feb 2016)
 
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person

Posted on May 18th, 2016 By

OSCE and Albanian National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator Meeting in Tirana

 

National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators from across South-Eastern Europe as well as the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, met in Tirana on Thursday, 12th May, 2016, to exchange views and good practices on national efforts to fight human trafficking. They paid special attention to the problem of unaccompanied minors in this region, with a view to increasing regional co-operation on the identification, assistance and referral of child victims and potential victims of trafficking.
Full report available at  http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b11aceda364f8f9afa6cadbbb&id=b2a1ff19a2&e=fc2a24a2d3

Posted on May 13th, 2016 By

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

Posted on May 2nd, 2016 By

Modern Day Slavery, Tackling Ireland’s Human Trafficking Problem

 

It might appear that human trafficking is a problem which is far removed from Ireland and that the term ‘Slavery’ refers to a bygone era.
Gráinne Loughran, in writing for the University Observer, discovers that modern slavery is a worldwide, secretive and multi-billion dollar business, in which vulnerable people are exploited by others for personal, financial gain.
Drawing upon statistics from the Blue Blindfold site, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) and RUHAMA, Miss Loughran paints a picture of criminal exploitation where it is suspected that the vast majority of the victims of trafficking who were identified by the authorities, have been forced into sexual exploitation.
For the full article, please see;
http://www.universityobserver.ie/features/modern-day-slavery-tackling-irelands-human-trafficking-problem/
 
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person

Posted on April 18th, 2016 By

Multi-disciplinary Healthcare Professionals Dedicated to Ending Human Trafficking

 

Believing human trafficking is a public health issue, a number of health-care professionals in the USA have created an organisation named Heal Trafficking, whose vision is “A world healed of trafficking”.
Education, advocacy and networking are the cornerstones of the organisation which believes that effectively confronting commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking requires informed professionals who are equipped to identify, respond and prevent these crimes.
A recent article by Dan Gorenstein, at the Marketplace’s Health Desk, highlights the disbelief of medical staff at an Emergency Room Department of a hospital in the US in October, 2015, when they encountered a patient who presented with a GPS tracking device (an RFID chip) implanted in her body by her trafficker.
Apart from the indignity to the human person, there are serious concerns for maintaining the anonymity of care-workers and those who run shelters and safe-houses, as they work to support victims of human trafficking and abuse.
In recent years, healthcare professionals in the US have accepted they can play a vital part in the fight against trafficking, sometimes unwittingly encountering victims through routine emergency medicine activity.
The mission of Heal Trafficking may very well be one which will travel across borders and continents, in order to address this latest and base development in the profile of trafficking and exploitation of human beings.
 
More information at:
www.healtrafficking.org
www.marketplace.org
 
Compiled by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person

Posted on April 11th, 2016 By

Ending Human Trafficking by 2030: The Role of Global Partnerships

 

UN Headquarters, New York, 7th April, 2016
At the invitation of the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, Sister Imelda Poole, IBVM, President of RENATE, was amongst a distinguished panel of speakers, invited to present at the Conference entitled Ending Human Trafficking by 2030: The Role of Global Partnerships in Eradicating Modern Slavery. The Conference co-organised by the Santa Marta Group, named after Pope Francis’ Vatican residence and founded in 2014, aims to strengthen and coordinate the global response to combatting human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery and to galvanise the coordination necessary to implement Targets 5.2, 8.7 and 16.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Imelda outlined the extent of the work of RENATE and the many Woman Religious with their co-workers, working across 24 European countries to end the slavery of human trafficking.
For more, please see Imelda Poole, IBVM_UN talk_07.04.2016
 

Posted on April 8th, 2016 By

France Adopts Historic Law to Decriminalise Prostituted Individuals

 

The French Government voted 64:12 to penalise the buyers of sex, equating the purchase of a sexual act with direct support of pimping, organised crime and sex trafficking, on the 6th of April, 2016. The vote was taken calling upon the country’s abolitionist tradition and its fundamental principles of democracy, human rights and women’s equality. France is now amongst an increasing number of countries around the world that are making formal, legislated efforts to end demand for paid sex. This is also central to the fight against pimping, procuring and trafficking.
 
Ms. Rosen Hicher, a survivor of prostitution and key member of Abolition 2012 – a collective of over 60 French organizations and survivors – has been to the forefront of championing the passage of this new legislation. Ms. Hicher walked 800 kilometres across France in 2014 to raise awareness about the pervasive harms that ‘clients’ perpetrate on prostituted women and girls, who constitute the overwhelming majority of individuals bought and sold in the sex trade.
 
“In our discourse about prostitution, we only talk about the prostituted, rarely of the pimp and never about the ‘client,'” says Ms. Hicher, who is also a member of SPACE International – a global advocacy network of sex trade survivors. “Today, France has come to understand that without buyers, the business of prostitution would not exist. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but today, we won.”
 
Some general details of the new law are as follows:
(1) Aims to protect exploited persons in the sex trade;
(2) Offers access to financial compensation for victims of prostitution and trafficking;
(3) Mandates the implementation of a National exit policy to give victims access to social services, including housing, and the creation of school programs to discuss sexual commodification and exploitation;
(4) Grants temporary residency permits to foreign victims of sex trafficking.
 
For full information, please see http://www.womenlobby.org/Journee-historique-pour-les-droits-des-femmes-la-France-choisit-l-abolition-du
 
Prepared by Anne Kelleher, RENATE Communications Person

 

 

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