16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence - 2023 ACRATH Campaign
Join ACRATH and the international community for 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The United Nations 16 days of activism begins on 25th November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the anniversary of the brutal assassination of Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa Mirabel, three activists in the Dominican Republic in 1960. It ends on 10th December - Human Rights Day, the day on which the United National General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Since 2005, ACRATH has consistently utilized this time to raise awareness and foster action in support of our work. To achieve this, we create a calendar each year which not only highlights the work carried out by ACRATH, but also focuses on a particular theme. The calendar serves as a tool to share knowledge and resources relating to Human Trafficking, commonly referred to as Modern Slavery.
This year the Australian Embassy to the Holy See will join ACRATH for the launch of its 16 Days of Activism which will focus on women migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation starting on November 25 - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Click on the image below to download the ACRATH 16 Days of Activism Calendar.
Individuals and organisations worldwide use it to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. This year ACRATH is joining the global campaign by asking you to join us each day as we offer a different focus on the 16 days of activism: Women migrant workers: increasingly on the move and vulnerable to exploitation.
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- Reflect with us
Please check our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts daily for the focus and how you can take action with us.
Pope Francis reminds us:
“It is not possible to remain indifferent
before the knowledge that human beings
are bought and sold like goods!”
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This year, the Australian Embassy to the Holy See will join ACRATH for the launch of its 16 Days of Activism, which will focus on women migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation, starting on November 25 - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Resources
We invite you to explore our resource section. They shed light on the challenges faced by women migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation. These valuable resources were highlighted each day on our calendar of events during the 2023 ACRATH 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. They include contributions from global speakers, interviews with individuals who have lived experience, informative articles, and more. A video of the 16 Days highlights can be viewed here.
- Joint Statement by ACRATH and Australia's Ambassador to the Holy See
ACRATH's National Executive Officer, Christine Carolan, is in Rome with the Australian Embassy to the Holy See to launch ACRATH's 16 Days of Activism focussing on women migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation, starting on November 25 - the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Click here to view the video launch.
2. Statement on Migrant Workers Worldwide
Jean Quinn dw, Executive Director of UNANIMA International, shares her insights and the work being done to redress many of the injustices suffered by migrant women workers. Click here for a 2 minute video.
3. Statement by Fiona Kendall - Mediteranean Hope, Italy
Fiona Kendall of Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy - Mediterranean Hope spoke with ACRATH EO, Christine Carolan about her organisation's work with migrant workers, many of whom made the treacherous journey from northern Africa to Lampedusa across the Mediterranean. Fiona spoke about the significance of the 16 Days campaign and the opportunities this campaign presents. View the interview here.
4. Q & A with Fr Peter O'Neill
Fr Peter O'Neill, Columban Regional Director of Oceania and ACRATH's representative on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme Agriculture Committee took part in a Q & A. Download the transcript here.
5. Justice for Exploited Workers
ACRATH's four year battle for justice for 22 men from the Pacific, who were exploited on farms in Australia when they came to work as part of the Seasonal Worker Program, resulted in the men receiving Act of Grace payments.
Hear Christine in a 2 minute video.
6. Working with Seasonal Workers
Fourced Labour Worker, Sr Taabeia Ibouri sgs, talks about the factors leading to the migration of workers and some of the issues they encounter. Download a 2 minute video here.
7. Parish Reaches out to Migrant Workers
Sr Sheela Thomas shares on the lived experience of migrant workers in Port Augusta, South Australia, and how her local parish reaches out to them. Listen to her comments in this 2 minute video.
8. Effects of Global Warming in Tonga
Hear the lived experience of Nancy Iosefo on why people from her home country are on the move and vulnerable to exploitation. View the 2 minute video here.
9. National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery
ACRATH has a seat at the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery. 2023 marks 15 years of Roundtable conversations. Read more about the impactof the Roundtable here.
10. Welcoming Seasonal Workers in Tasmania
Denise Talbot and her local community welcomed seasonal workers in Tasmania. Hear Denise speak of this experience in a video clip here.
11. Sant'Egidio Community
Anna Maria Spinelli from the Community of Sant'Egidio International discuss her thirty years of work providing humanitarian corridors for female victims of migration exploitation in Italy. Listen to Anna Maria here.
Read and Share Stories
The November 2023 issue of the ACRATH Newsletter shines a light on the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign asking people across the globe to focus on the plight of women migrating across the world for work.
Download a copy of the Newsletter here.
Click here to become an ACRATH newsletter subscriber.
Pray and Reflect
Holding the Light
Join in person for an ecumenical service to honour the victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Where: Wesley Uniting Church, 130 Londsdale Street, Melbourne
Date: Thursday 30th November
Time: 5pm
Prayers of Intercession
Leader: Let us pray together that God’s justice and right will break forth in our time.
We pray for the Christian Communities around the world, for the strength, fortitude and vision of all their leaders and members in addressing the issues of human trafficking. Response: God of compassion, let justice and right break forth.
We pray for world leaders that they will confront human trafficking in all its forms, by dedicating their time, energy and resources to eradicating it. Response: God of compassion, let justice and right break forth.
We pray for those in bonded labour, in agricultural fields, mines and factories who have been reduced to tools for production and commodities rather than human beings. Response: God of compassion, let justice and right break forth.
We pray for women who are estimated to make up 80% of human trafficking victims and for changes in societal attitudes that deny the equality and dignity of women. Response: God of compassion, let justice and right break forth.
We pray for the development of impoverished nations so that their peoples may know a decent standard of living, have meaningful opportunities for education and employment and thus escape the desperate circumstances that make people vulnerable to human trafficking. Response: God of compassion, let justice and right break forth.
We pray that the demand for trafficked people will reduce. May men and women grow in appreciation of the dignity of every human person so that we can live in a world where no-one is enslaved. Response: Good of compassion, let justice and right break forth.
We pray for all who have died as a result of their exploitation and slavery. Response: God of compassion, let justice and right break forth.
Leader: Awaken our hearts and deepen our commitment to work for a world where all people are free and able to live with dignity and freedom. We ask for conversion of heart for traffickers and for strong laws to protect victims. Give us wisdom and courage so that together we will find ways to ensure Your freedom is the gift for all people. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Source: ACRATH (Prayers written by Claire Griffin csb based on US sisters’ reflection)
Anti-trafficking Reflection Service
This two-page anti-trafficking reflection services was prepared by Anne McPhee ibvm, based on a reflection by the late Carol Hogan sss. Please feel free to use all, or part of this reflection during the 16 Days campaign. Click here.
Consider a Donation to ACRATH
ACRATH needs funds to continue our work in advocating, educating and supporting the victims and survivors of human trafficking now and into the future to sustain our many programs.
Please consider a donation to help us continue our valuable wok into the future. We depend on you to help us i this work against human trafficking and slavery.
Click here to find out how you can contribute to this vital work.
We hope you can take the time to reflect, share and join our campaign to empower you to stand against gender-based violence.
If you would like more information on how you can help, become a member, sign up for our newsletter or donate to ACRATH please contact Ange: networks@acrath.org.au