Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Working against trafficking in human persons is a new form of missionary activity that is now seeing more and more participation from among female religious congregations. This is what has been seen in the workshops of the International Convention of “Female Religious in Network against Trafficking in Persons,” underway in Rome (see Fides 15/6/2009). Many testimonies and talks have been given already. Among others was that of Sr. Viviana Ballarin, President of the USMI (Union of Major Superiors of Italy), who observed that with this new commitment to fighting trafficking, “religious life enters into the darkest recesses of evil and sin” and they offer a valuable female presence. In general, the workshops have mentioned the following: the struggle against trafficking and “a new apostolate that progresses” and a “change of perspective” in regards to the traditional parish and school activities that characterized female religious congregations.
Thus, initiatives are arising that will allow the message of religious life to reach out to new realities. In this perspective, the religious intend to prepare initiatives against trafficking of persons in the World Cup Championships in 2010 in South Africa and the World Ski Championships in Vancouver (Canada) and are preparing fliers, stickers, conventions, statements, and other initiatives to fight human trafficking and spread awareness among authorities and civilians.
Sr. Cecilia Nkane, of the Sisters of Saint Brigid, who works in South Africa, said that the female religious congregations have contributed to the new law that will be introduced in reaction to exploitation of people. “The traffickers are organized on a international level and we should work on the same level to work against them,” said Sr. Eugenia Bonetti, Consolata Missionary working on the issue in Italy, where 250 Sisters work on 110 projects for assistance and rehabilitation.
From the Philippines was Sr. Veronica Endah, Missionary of Charity, who explained that “information, psychological therapy, legal assistance, coordination of other religious groups” are all important for the Sisters in their work. She also mentioned how they help a woman to be freed from the trafficking. The first contact with the sisters occurs in the nighttime hours, on the street, where dozens of courageous religious sisters work in discretion and with great success. The women then enter an initial center which offers immediate protection and then they are taken in by families or secure centers for psychological assistance. The next phase includes assistance with their documents and working with the embassies of their countries of origin. From 2000 to today, in Italy alone, 3,500 Nigerian women have done this process. They continue professional training and psychological and spiritual assistance, before drawing up a plan to return to their home country. “In many cases, the children have saved their mothers, giving them the strength to emerge from the vicious circle of this deplorable and covert form of modern-day slavery,” said Sr. Bonetti. (Mtp) (Agenzia Fides 17/6/2009)
