Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manaus (Agenzia Fides) – Almost a year has passed since the meeting in Brasilia for the Coordinatino of the Religious Network “Un Grito por la Vida”, which discussed and planned actions related to the fight against and prevention of human trafficking. According to information sent to Fides by Sister Beatriz Duarte Gomes, head of the Conference of Religious Sisters of Brazil, the meeting in March 2010 established the main goals of the awareness campaign against human trafficking (see Fides 17/03/2010).
Among the members of this network are the sisters of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who, after this experience deepened their mission and their identity. Moved by the slogan “Wounded life cries for mercy and justice. Enough with traffic in human beings!”, the sisters decided to create a community in Manaus, Amazonia, to address the problem of trafficking in persons and to alert the entire local population.
Sister Eurides Alves de Oliveira, General Councillor of the pastoral care and social action areas of the Congregation, said that three sisters from the community have been in Manaus since January. The first step is to better understand the reality of human trafficking in the region. “They need to know the problem in depth, what is happening and what can be done in collaboration with government and civil organisations,” said the sister. The official opening of the new community in the north of the Country has been fixed for 17 March. The choice of the city was not by accident: Manaus has one of the highest rates of soliciting women and adolescents for human trafficking to European countries and neighbouring countries to Brazil.
The Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is present in 14 Brazilian states and eight countries, committed to solidarity and the promotion of women, youth and children who are victims of injustice and exploitation. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 19/02/2011)
