Coinciding with Talitha Kum’s 15th anniversary, the 2nd General Assembly of Talitha Kum was held in Rome from May 18 to 24, with the theme “Walking Together to End Human Trafficking: Compassion in Action for Transformation.”
It was attended by 153 network delegates from 71 countries, representing the 60 Talitha Kum (TK) networks committed to eradicating human trafficking on all continents, representing religious women and men, lay people, youth and survivors, who dialogued, listened, discerned and shared how to continue the commitment, strategically address trafficking and respond to the call of Pope Francis to mobilise in the fight against trafficking and in restoring the full dignity of those who have been trafficked.
The Assembly culminated in the presentation of the Final Declaration, which proposes action through concrete measures to address three priorities: systemic change in the face of new vulnerabilities, a holistic approach focused on survivors, and expanding collaboration and partnerships.
Below are the concrete action steps set out in the final declaration:
- Empower women, children and young people to achieve more just and equitable societies.
- Adopt effective strategies to end the demand for human trafficking through education of boys, girls, men and women, as well as advocacy for regular migration channels.
- Fight for the prosecution of traffickers, as well as for policy and legal changes with societal impact for populations at risk, including migrants, refugees and displaced persons.
- Effectively address the drivers of migration and displacement, advocating for the protection and integration of people on the move.
- Highlight the consequences of trafficking online and in social media, raise awareness among young people and their families, and promote cybersecurity.
- Caring for survivors as valued members of our TK family.
- Promote safe and secure spaces/homes where survivor-to-survivor support is possible and that these initiatives are survivor-led.
- Establish spaces for compassionate listening, hotlines and mobile reporting apps.
- Support survivors in having opportunities for education, health services, training, housing, legal assistance, and employment.
- Offer psychosocial support and spiritual accompaniment to survivors, as well as psychological and legal support, such as training for TK members and partners in these areas.
- To find creative ways to raise awareness of human trafficking in a globalised and indifferent society, inspired by the encyclical Fratelli tutti.
- To fight for equality between women and men and respect their human rights.
- Share resources, good practices, data analysis and the international directory.
- Tackle the impact of climate change and mitigate its underlying causes, inspired by the encyclical Laudato si’.
- Pray for ending human trafficking, broadening the scope of the World Day of Prayer and Reflection on February 8.
- Encourage the active participation of young people, in particular TK Youth Ambassadors, by training them as leaders in our online anti-trafficking awareness campaigns.
(hermanasoblatas.org)
*** The International Talitha Kum Network (in which the Oblates of the Most Holy Redeemer participate) is preparing an international World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Trafficking on February 8, in memory of St. Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese nun who was a slave, as well as many initiatives in this challenging task of social and religious commitment.
