The 30th of July marked the World Day against Trafficking in Human Beings, a day on which, due to our charism, the Oblate Sisters feel particularly committed, especially with regard to trafficking for sexual exploitation.
This year’s campaign by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has the motto “Use and Abuse of Technology”. According to the definition, recruitment is one of the actions that are part of the crime of trafficking in human beings. Technology is a tool that can enable and prevent human trafficking.
According to the United Nations Office, in 2018 there were approximately 50,000 victims of human trafficking and 148 countries reported its existence. Of the victims detected, 50% were trafficked in sexual exploitation and 38% were exploited in forced labour.
Women continue to be the main victims. They account for 46% and girls for 19% of all trafficking victims. Globally, one in three victims detected is a child.
The Oblates: network against trafficking
The Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer operates as a network against traficking in human beings, accompanying in particular women victims of trafficking in sexual exploitation.
As a member of the International Union of Superiors General, our Congregation is part of the Talitha Kum Network, the International Network of Consecrated Life against Trafficking in Human Beings, is present in 5 continents, 50 inter-congregational and national networks that coordinate anti-trafficking efforts at the national-local level; 10 regional networks that involve the joint coordination of different countries at the regional level.
In addition, we have an involvement in Talitha Kum: Oblate Sister Carmen Ugarte is the regional representative for Latin America.
Within the inter-congregational and national networks promoted by Talitha Kum, the Oblate Sisters participate in the co-ordination of some of them, and in others they join the actions that are organised. The Ramá Network (Central America and the Caribbean), the Rahamim Network (Mexico), the Kawsay Network (South America), the “Un grito por la Vida” Network (Brazil), the Renate Network (Europe) or the Network of Religious against Trafficking in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Philippines, are some of them.
Our Serra-Schönthal Foundation is part of the Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women (GAATW), an international platform of more than 80 non-governmental organisations from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and North America.
You might also be interested in: Annual Report 2021 of the International Network Against Trafficking in Human Talitha Kum
(hermanasoblatas.org)
