Be Inspired by St Josephine Bakhita and Help Combat Human Trafficking

Australians are being urged to become more aware of the extent of human trafficking and slavery in this country and to respond to Pope Francis’ call to join with the global community in ending the injustice against so many people, particularly children.

Pope Francis has designated the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita which falls on 8 February as the world day of prayer, reflection and action against human trafficking. Talitha Kum (UISG-USG) has declared the theme of this year’s feast day celebrations, which are likely to be celebrated at Masses on the weekend of February 11 and 12: They are children! Not slaves!

St Josephine Bakhita, who died on 8 February 1947, was born in Southern Sudan in 1869, and during her life experienced kidnapping and slavery in both Sudan and Italy. After gaining her freedom Josephine Bakhita dedicated her life to sharing her story and to supporting the poor and suffering. She eventually became a Canossian Sister and was canonised in 2000.

Like Josephine Bakhita, millions of children are trafficked into domestic servitude every year. They are also trafficked for sexual exploitation, pornography production, forced marriage, illegal adoption, forced labour, and to become child soldiers. The United Nations estimates that one in every three victims of trafficking is a child. It is estimated that 30 million children have lost their childhood through sexual exploitation over the past 30 years.

ACRATH has developed the following resources for Parishes and school communities:

• A St Josephine Bakhita poster to display in your community
• A brief notice for parish or school bulletins
• Homily notes for Masses on the weekend of February 11 & 12
• Prayers of intercession for Masses on the weekend of February 11 & 12 or for inclusion at school assemblies

Find these and other resources for the World Day of Prayer, Reflection and Action Against Human Trafficking here.

Preparing for the World day of Prayer, Reflection and Action

In the USA, 11th January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. To mark this event and to prepare for the World Day of Prayer, Reflection and Action Against Human Trafficking the Sisters of St Joseph of Orange have produced and prayer and reflection sheet. You are invited to join in prayer to end human trafficking by praying each day as suggested on the reflection sheet. Access a copy here.

Sr Angela Reed at Notre Dame University

Sr. Angela Reed RSM, a member of ACRATH, is currently currently acting-coordinator of Mercy Global Action at the UN.She recently spoke at the Notre Dame Law School explaining how her research findings subvert stereotypes of a homogenous sex trafficking experience and point to the need for a life course, rights-based approach to anti-trafficking policy and prevention. Dr. Reed’s visit to Notre Dame was sponsored by the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and The Center for Civil and Human Rights. Read more…

US National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, in proclaiming January 2017 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, called upon businesses, national and community organizations, families, and all Americans to recognize the vital role they must play in ending all forms of slavery.

“From factories and brothels to farms and mines, millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world are exploited for their bodies and their labor. Whether through violence, deceit, or the promises of a better life, some of the most vulnerable populations among us are preyed upon by human traffickers. In order to rid the world of modern slavery we must do everything in our power to combat these violations of human decency.” Read more… (Photo: upi.com)

Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution 2331 (2016)

At a meeting held in December 2016 the UN Security Council strongly condemned human trafficking in areas of conflict.  The 15?member Council responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security, after hearing from 70 spekers, specifically condemned the sale of, or trade in, persons for purposes of sexual slavery, and exploitation and forced labour.  It stressed that human trafficking contributed to other forms of transnational organized crime, which could exacerbate conflict and foster insecurity and instability.

The then UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, described trafficking as a global problem, saying the most vulnerable people were those caught in conflict — women, children, internally displaced persons and refugees.  Emphasizing the importance of fighting trafficking for the sake of the victims, and of reducing funding for terrorists, he said countries should investigate and prosecute cases in which their own nationals committed such crimes abroad.  All perpetrators must be brought to justice, he said, stressing that only an international response could succeed in resolving an international problem like human trafficking.  Because the majority of trafficking victims were women and girls, the response must include special attention to their rights, and States must adopt gender-sensitive and rights-based migration policies, he said. Read more…

Information, Resources and Suggested Actions

An Interfaith Toolkit has been prepared by Washington Inter-Religious Staff Community Working Group on Human Trafficking. The toolkit contains basic information about trafficking, as well as specific information on the connection between consumerism and trafficking, which is the theme of the 2017 toolkit. We encourage communities to focus on the way in which consumerism and lack of accountability in business supply chains result in millions of people being trafficked or enslaved. The toolkit also contains faith-based resources for several faith traditions, including prayers, scriptures, statements, fact sheets and resolutions. Finally, the toolkit contains ideas for local faith communities to take action against human trafficking, as well as links to additional print and multimedia resources. Download here.

Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter Vol 15 No 1

The first issue of Stop Trafficking! for 2017 explores the growing victimization of people, especially women and children, in the sex trade in North America. Articles include Human trafficking rampant in Canada, Deadly human trafficking business on Mexico-Us Boarder, Human Trafficking flourishes in US cities and Consumer power matters.  Download your copy here.

Global Report on Trafficking in Persons

The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime has released the 2016 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. In the preface to this report Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC) wrote:

“Perhaps the most worrying development is that the movement of refugees and migrants, the largest seen since World War II, has arguably intensified since 2014. As this crisis has unfolded, and climbed up the global agenda, there has been a corresponding recognition that, within these massive migratory movements, are vulnerable children, women and men who can be easily exploited by smugglers and traffickers.”

The report outlines patterns of trafficking in persons, trafficking flows and legislative and criminal justice response to trafficking in persons across the globe. Read more…

Report of Interdepartmental Committee 2015-2016

The eighth  report of Interdepartmental Committee on Human Trafficking and Slavery Practices has been released. The report outlines the work of the Australian Government and its partners to combat human trafficking and slavery in the period 1st July  2015 – 30th June 2016. The report indicates that the Australian Federal Police  received 169 new referrals relating to human trafficking and slavery matters in 2015–16, taking the total to 691 since 2004. Of these referrals 69 related to forced marriage. During this period there was a conviction for child trafficking, the second in Australia. The document also give a report on the work being undertaken by NGOs including ACRATH. Read more…

Australian Institute of Criminology Publication

The Australian Institute of Criminology has released the latest paper in the Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice series (No. 527?December 2016). This publication, Migrating for work and study: The role of the migration broker in facilitating workplace exploitation, human trafficking and slavery, examines the role of migration brokers in alleged and finalised cases of migrant exploitation ranging from low pay and hazardous working conditions to more severe forms involving debt bondage, forced labour and other slavery-like practices. Read more…