PEOPLE AND EVENTS

The Prophetic Role of Catholic Sisters in the Fight against Trafficking in Persons

Two of our Sisters, attended a week’s Seminar in Rome, 15th-20th October, on the subject of Human Trafficking. They met with many Sisters from international Congregations, who are working to alleviate exploitation in this field of human suffering. The Seminar, highlighted important research and information on TIP (Trafficking in Persons). One significant result of the week’s work was the formation of an Association called The International Network of Religious Against Trafficking in Persons, (INRATIP).

This is their Statement to the World

Definition

Trafficking in Human Beings means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons using threat, force, coercion, fraud, deception or abuse of power by payments to achieve consent of control over a person for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall mean among other things, sexual exploitation, domestic service, forced labour or removal of organs.

To Victims

We say to you who have been trafficked especially women and children. We stand with you, you are not alone. We will fight with you to release you from your bondage. In solidarity with you, we will confront the Traffickers. We challenge unjust systems and those who exploit you. Do not give up hope.

To Traffickers

We, the Women Religious of the world say to you traffickers: Stop the exploitation! Look at the children, women, and men you are destroying with your physical and psychological abuse. By violating their fundamental human rights you damage, deny and destroy their identities, names and status. We condemn these actions as well as the subtle ways you use to exploit them.

To Demanders and Exploiters

We call on you who exploit women, children and men for commercial sex or forced labour to stop buying human beings, for without your demand the evil of human trafficking would not exist. We call on you to realise that all women, children and men have equal rights and dignity and that by your demand you cause irreparable harm and lose your own dignity.

To Governments

We acknowledge that many Governments have laws against trafficking and call for an increased enforcement of these laws. We further call on the Governments of the world to address the issues of economic inequality, poverty and corruption which lead to the destruction of so many lives. The physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological torture of millions of people, hidden in back streets, ghettoes, hotels and parlours all over the world is criminal activity. We urge Governments to create and implement policies and strong legislation which criminalise the exploiters. Good governance demands that traffickers do not benefit from the vulnerability of others.

To All Religious Leaders

We appreciate all the religious leaders who have supported us in the fight against trafficking in persons. We call on all religious leaders to end religious practices and customs that discriminate against women and girls and hence contribute to the attitude of gender inequality underlying the growth of human trafficking in our world today. We urge all religious leaders to denounce injustice and violence against women, children and men who are exploited or used in the sale of organs. We encourage you to use relentlessly your pastoral responsibility to defend and promote the human dignity of persons exploited by these forms of slavery.

To People of Good will

We urge all people of good will to open your hearts to the victims and to act to change the root causes of human trafficking - poverty, gender inequality, discrimination, greed and corruption. Each small action of restoring dignity to another person furthers the dignity of each one of us. Our hope rests in a vision of humanity which honours the principle that no woman, child or man is a commodity for sale. Relying on the love of God, we ask you to join us in our prayers and our actions to eradicate this social and moral evil.