Want to help trafficked people?
Don’t know how to?
ACRATH is holding a public meeting in Melbourne on Monday 30th May 2011.
Come along and increase your awareness of this issue.
For more information click here.
At a conference hosted by the US Embassy to the Holy See and St Thomas University, a minister, a rabbi and a catholic nun spoke of their passion to see an end to modern slavery. Rev. David Schilling, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, Rabbis for Human Rights North America and Sister Estrella Castalone, International Union of Superiors General (UISG), Talitha Kum Network spoke on the benefits of working in partnership across faith based organisations to combat trafficking. The keynote speaker at the day long conference was Ambassador Luis CdeBaca of the US State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking. Click here to read a report on the conference.
On 18 May 2011 at a conference on modern day slavery organised by the Us Embassy to the Holy See, the U.S. ambassador-at-large to combat human trafficking, Luis CdeBaca, spoke on the necessary involvement of consumers and corporations in the fight against human trafficking. It is important that supply chains of cheap goods are investigated to find out where trafficking exists so that it can be eradicated. One international airline has already begun training flight attendants to spot potential victims and then notify police on landing. Read more
In the coming weeks there are three opportunities to learn more about the situation of Human Trafficking and slavery in Australia.
In an audience with participants in the ordinary assembly of the High Council of the Pontifical Missionary Societies on Sunday 14th May Pope Benedict drew attention to the curse of Modern Day Slavery.
“New problems and new forms of slavery, in fact, emerge in our time, both in the so-called first world, wealthy and rich but uncertain about its future, both in emerging countries, where, even as a result of globalization often characterized by profit, they end up increasing the poor masses, the immigrants and the oppressed, in which dims the light of hope. The Church must constantly renew its commitment to bring Christ, to prolong his messianic mission for the coming of the Kingdom of God, Kingdom of justice, peace, freedom, love.
To transform the world according to God’s plan with the renewing power of the Gospel, “so that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28) is the task of all the People of God. Therefore it is necessary to continue to work with renewed enthusiasm the mission of evangelization, the joyful proclamation of the Kingdom of God, came to Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead people to true freedom of God’s children against all forms of slavery. It is necessary to cast the nets of the Gospel in the sea of history so as to lead people to the Land of God”
The full version of Pope Benedict’s address can be read here. These words come ahead of an international meeting to be held in Rome on Wednesday 18th May where public, private and faith sectors of society will consider how they can work together to combat human trafficking. For further information click here.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 115 million children are involved in hazardous work. The 2011 World Day Against Child Labour calls for urgent action to tackle the problem.
The ILO website has resources that will assist you in taking up this very important cause to bring about safely and protection for all children. Download the resources here.
Two sisters from the Philippines were promised a job as food servers in Malaysia. Hoping to earn money to support their family they accepted the position. Upon arriving in Malaysia they discovered they had been sold and were forced to work as domestic helpers without pay for several moths.
Read more about their story in an International Labour Organization (ILO) report here.
Child marriage, defined as marriage before age 18, devastates the lives of girls, their families and their communities. Widespread in many developing countries, child brides number more than 60 million worldwide. In some countries, half of the girls are married before they turn 18.
Click here to read what the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) has to say about this harmful practice.
View the video entitled The Bride Price here.
Indigenous peoples in Thailand, the Congo, India, Canada, the United States, Australia and nearly every country in the world are caught up in this despicable trade in human flesh.
The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women in the Asia Pacific (CATW-AP) recently sponsored an important meeting in India calling attention to the sexual violence being committed against the indigenous peoples.
For more information click here.
Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter Vol 9 No 5
The May 2011 issue includes articles on the exploitation of young people in labour settings. This newsletter is produced by the Sisters of the Divine Savior.
Click here to read the May issue.
Trading Lives
"In a new country there will be
no slavery & hence no slaves."
Captain Arthur Phillip said this in 1787 before leaving England to become the 1st Governor of the new colony of Australia. Phillip landed at Sydney Cove in 1788 after an 8 month sea voyage.
ACRATH acknowledges and respects the Indigenous Peoples of Australia both past and present.
As caretakers of the land and custodians of the stories their culture has survived for thousands of years and is now recognised as the oldest living culture in the world.
