Posts Tagged ‘trafficked’
Judy Tells Companionship Story
Judy Lamb, a volunteer with ACRATH in Victoria, is the perfect person to explore and document the impact of ACRATH’s Companionship Program on the organisation’s advocacy work. She has spent almost a decade as a volunteer companion to a family supported by the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project and 15 years ago she helped the Daughters…
Read MoreACRATH’s Dogged Advocacy Pays Off
Many years ago ACRATH, alongside other NGOs, began advocating for a Modern Slavery Act in Australia and an independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner to oversee that Act. The Act was passed in 2018 and the appointment of a Commissioner is now a step closer. ACRATH’s dogged advocacy is paying off. On Budget night in October ACRATH was…
Read MoreACRATH Advocacy Issues
A National Compensation Scheme? Funding for NGOs working to achieve the National Action Plan? Additional pathways onto the Support for Trafficked People Program? These are issues ACRATH advocates, Cindy Bohan and Christine Carolan, raised in a great meeting with Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus on Thursday 13th September. AG Mark gave us a respect-filled hearing. We are now looking…
Read MoreMaking Each Other Strong
Four years ago Clinical psychologist Radhika Santhanam-Martin generously agreed to facilitate a session on trauma informed practice for ACRATH’s 14 Companions. Four years later she is now a pivotal part of the Companionship Program, supporting the trained and supervised Companions who in turn offer support and friendship to 23 trafficked women and their 40 children.…
Read MoreACRATH Companionship
Walking alongside victim-survivors means ACRATH can effectively advocate for them. The April page of the 2022 ACRATH calendar gives an insight into the ACRATH Companionship programme. Liya* was18 and in Year 12 in Australia, when she was deceived by her parents into going on a ‘3 week holiday’ to her favourite aunt in her parents’…
Read MoreAction in October
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed each year on Oct9ber 17. Given that poverty makes millions of people vulnerable to being exploited and trafficked you are invited to consider organizing a letter-writing campaign asking federal politicians to increase rather than continuing to cut Australia’s aid to developing nations. The October page…
Read MoreCovid-19 and Modern Slavery
Covid-19 has impacted the lives of many people especially those who are vulnerable. Research conducted by Dr. Nerida Chazal, University of South Australia, and Ms Kyla Raby, Australian Red Cross, has shone a light on the The Impact of Covid-19 on the Identification of Victims of Modern Slavery and their Access to Support Services in…
Read MoreForced Labour in Tobacco
The High Court has denied a request from two major UK tobacco companies to dismiss a case which claims they have exploited Malawian farming families and engaged in child labour practices. In 2018 The Guardian reported children aged 14 and under were kept out of school and employed in hard and sometimes harmful physical labour to…
Read MoreName Your Change
ACRATH’s successful first ‘Name Your Change’ zoom morning tea has led to serious moves to slavery-proof some of Victoria’s political hubs. About 25 people from around Australia ‘popped’ in for a cuppa and to ‘name their change in 2021’. ACRATH wants this morning tea campaign to be another step into ‘slavery proofing’ homes and workplaces.…
Read MoreAction for April
ACRATH’s volunteer Companions offer support and friendship to trafficked women and their children. Two Companions support groups of seasonal workers in Victoria and Queensland. ACRATH’s Companions strive to … be a supportive presence for the trafficked person, a steady, reliable source of encouragement, support, affirmation, and when required, a bit of considered advice. walk beside those…
Read MorePartnering with SVHA
To honour St Josephine Bakhita Day (Feb 8th) this year, the Advocates for Change at St Vincent’s Health Australia (SVHA in Melbourne chose to set up a week long window display for the passing public to view from the street. The awareness-raising display featured ACRATH’s work in advocating against all forms of Modern Slavery. Particularly…
Read MoreChild Slaves vs Cocoa Companies
A federal class action lawsuit has been filed in the US Federal Court on behalf of eight Malian young men who were trafficked as children and forced to harvest cocoa in Cote D’Ivoire. The Defendant companies are Nestle, Cargill, Mars, Mondel?z, Hershey, Barry Callebaut and Olam. These companies had signed the Harkin-Engel Protocol in 2005…
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