“I had a strong concern for the plight of women and children throughout my life. I am now aware that trafficking of persons is cropping up all over the place. How can I get involved?”
Trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world. It is second only to the Drugs trade and at times changes place with the Arms trade. While drugs can be sold only once, the trafficked person can be sold over and over again. Human trafficking is a crime against fundamental human rights and the dignity of the human person. Few countries in the world are uninvolved. It is a hidden secretive activity that is economically driven. ‘Slavery’ is a more accurate and descriptive term. People should not be bought and sold.
According to the UN website http://UNGIFT.org one of the many challenges to eradicating human trafficking is lack of knowledge. For any individual, becoming informed about the topic of Human Trafficking, is a necessary starting point. From newspaper articles and TV programmes we know that human trafficking is widespread throughout the island of Ireland, due to strong demand. Many faith-based groups are taking positive action against the trafficking of human beings. The Embrace office in Belfast, through its regular newsletter and website, www.embraceni.org, has helpful and current information. The Act to Prevent Trafficking group, APT, in the Republic of Ireland is very active and works closely with Ruhama and other national and international agencies. Their website is www.aptireland.org.
In spite of all the efforts globally, the trade in human trafficking is growing at an alarming rate. Networking and collaboration is the way forward in order to make any impact. It is essential, for any individual interested in getting involved, to raise one’s own awareness of the topic, to know what is happening in your own locality and to identify groups working on anti-trafficking issues.
A short article in The Irish Times recently concluded with the sentence: “Investigation teams are liaising with Europol, Interpol, PSNI, Central Investigation Bureau in Warsaw and SOCO in UK with a view to identifying potential victims”.
Religious Congregations and faith-based groups place a strong emphasis on praying for people involved in the complex issues in the trafficking chain. We can pray for those whose lives are destroyed by human trafficking and those still held in that form of slavery. We can pray also for those working on their behalf and for a change of heart on the part of the traffickers and the clients themselves.
Is there anything I can do about this issue of Human Trafficking?
- Learn more about Trafficking by visiting the websites above or others you know.
- Talk to 3 other people about trafficking.
- Pray for all who are trafficked, especially women and children. Use resources available from links above.
- Contribute to the education of vulnerable girls in poverty-stricken areas, as poverty contributes to trafficking and education is key to their future.
Catherine Gibbons rsm
Northern Province
