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Child protection campaign in Albania
Caritas Albania, together with other governmental and non-governmental organizations, has developed a child protection safety
network "All Together against Child Trafficking" (Albanian abbreviation "BKTF"). The overall leitmotif of the Coalition is
to act with determination and devotion in accordance with the principle "the best interest of the child".
Read more
Caritas Pakistan
On 11-13 March 2009 Caritas Pakistan organized advocacy workshop on human trafficking that was attended by 30 animators and
coordinators from different regions of the country. The main objectives of the workshop were to increase understanding of
human trafficking and advocacy work in the area of combating human trafficking, learn about situation of human trafficking
in different regions/dioceses of Pakistan, and strengthen their networking as home back application.
The Day one proceedings commenced with a formal inaugural session presided by His Excellency bishop Andrew Francis (Bishop
of Multan). The other dignitaries of the inaugural session were Ms. Yasmine Jospeh (Diocesan Executive Secretary-Caritas Pakistan
Faisalabad), Mr. Samuel Clement (Diocesan Executive Secretary-Caritas Pakistan Multan), and Fr.Nadeem Patras. His Excellency
Bishop Andrew Francis stressed on the involvement of youth, other NGOs and Muslim leaders in combating human trafficking.
The candles were also lit as a mark of unending commitment of the religious and passion for this cause.
The presentation on human trafficking covered the definition of human trafficking, difference between human trafficking and
smuggling, purposes of human trafficking and real life stories of sex workers of Lahore red light area and Iqbal Masih (child
rights activist). Also the documentary named "SOLD" presented by Lara Dutta was played, which gave more information and clarity
on situation of human trafficking in South Asian region. Another documentary on human trafficking "Lest the hope dies", presented
by the Interactive Resource Center (IRC-Lahore), showed the possible routes of trafficking within country, and emphasized
the role of FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) and NGOs in combating human trafficking.
The key learnings of the participants were the ways traffickers trap the persons, effects of human trafficking, a concept
of advocacy, and situation of human trafficking in different dioceses.
For more information, please contact Amir Irfan at caritaspakistan_red@yahoo.com. Local NGOs on the frontline
On 3rd March 2009 in the European Parliament, Brussels, the Dutch Foundation of Religious against trafficking in women (SRTV),
jointly with Jubilee Campaign Nederland, organized a conference "Local NGOs on the frontline: Necessary but neglected tools
in the fight against human trafficking". The goal of the conference was to inform Parliamentarians about various anti-trafficking
activities undertaken by local NGOs and mobilize the European Union for supporting the efforts of local NGOs on the frontline.
Representatives from Albania, Romania, Greece and the Netherlands shared with over 70 participants attending the conference
their experience of successes and struggles as they put into action the policy and plans of the European Union.
A document with clear proposals detailing how those fighting on the frontlines can be equipped by the EU was introduced in
the framework of the conference. Advocating for facilitation of fundraising, Jubilee Campaign Nederland and the Dutch Foundation
of Religious against trafficking in women proposed that the European Union create a mechanism through which local NGOs can
access EU funds through a simplified procedure.
Organizers of the event have also prepared an art exposition entitled "Elena - a reflection on human trafficking" which was
displayed during the conference.
COATNET partners can find the proposal on the extranet. For more information, please contact Ivonne van de Kar at srtv@srtv.info.
COATNET advises how to improve the coordination of efforts against trafficking in persons
COATNET partners from India, Romania, Nepal, France, Lithuania, Ireland and Ukraine have shared their views on how to achieve
a more effective coordination of efforts against trafficking in persons of all stakeholders, relevant intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations, machineries, treaty bodies and all other partners within and outside the United Nations system,
and how to ensure the full and effective implementation of all legal instruments relevant to trafficking in persons, particularly
the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking
in Persons, Especially Women and Children. The collection of the views of various anti-trafficking stakeholders was carried
out by UN-organisations in accordance with the resolution A/RES/63/194 entitled "Improving the coordination of efforts against trafficking in persons", recently adopted by the United Nations General
Assembly at its 63rd session (2008-2009).
In a consolidated reply submitted by Caritas Internationalis to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, COATNET partners
indicated that more coordination is needed when it comes to the protection and social integration of victims of trafficking,
particularly, through ensuring effective compensation to trafficked persons and sufficient funding required for services provided
to the victims based on their needs. Another area where the coordination should be improved is information sharing about the
grass root work of combating human trafficking and a thorough evaluation of various anti-trafficking practices. This and other
recommendations of COATNET partners, as well as other anti-trafficking actors will form a basis for a background paper that
will be submitted to the UN General Assembly by 1 June 2009.
Please find a consolidated reply and other relevant documents on the extranet or contact COATNET Coordinating officer at Natalia@caritas-ua.org with a request
for them.
COATNET participates at the World Social Forum in Belem
From 27th January to 1 February 2009 the 9th edition of the World Social Forum took place in Belem, Brazil, symbolizing the
more and more crucial necessity to reconcile development needs and the preservation of the planet. Around over ten themes
were discussed during various activities organized at the Forum, with a separate day devoted to the problems affecting people
of the Amazon, bringing together organizations of the nine countries and territories of the Amazon area. During the Forum
a number of seminars tackling the problem of trafficking in human beings were organized by Brazilian and international organizations,
for example, by CPT (Pastoral Land Commission, National Campaign against Slave Labour in Brazil), Projeto Trama, Caritas Manaus,
and Caritas France.
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Responding to Trafficking in Persons in the Americas
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Around 70 international and regional representatives of faith and religious organizations, Catholic Bishops’ Conferences,
civil society, and officials of US government gathered on 2-5 November, 2008, in Washington DC for the conference “Responding
to Trafficking in Persons in the Americas”.
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The event, organized by CCUSA, CRS, and COATNET, focused on the extent and nature of human trafficking in the context of Western
Hemisphere, highlighted case studies of Catholic and civil society response in the Americas and other regions, and developed
“next steps” for collaborations between Catholic institutions – in the efforts to address this profound violation of human
rights and dignity.
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Read more
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FIZ, Switzerland
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FIZ - Women' s Information Center for women from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, together with 24 women' s
and men' s organisations, Human Rights organisations, gender equality offices, counselling centres, faith organisations and
trade unions launched the «Euro 08 Campaign against Trafficking in Women». The Campaign started on 8th March with symbolical
street action in different cities and a petition for a better protection for the victims of trafficking. The Campaign aims
not only to raise awareness on the trafficking of women in Switzerland but also to mobilise its population on this very serious
form of Human Rights violation. The Campaign will continue for the duration of the Euro 08 and end in the autumn of 2008.
More information on the Campaign schedule, please visit website http://www.stop-trafficking.ch
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Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred
Heart
,
Australia
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Australian Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart have completed a consultation on the social needs of trafficked persons,
with a special focus on the ways of strengthening the self-esteem of trafficked persons and practical needs. The consultation
will help Australian anti-trafficking actors to strengthen their response to meet related social needs and to assist them
in their planning. The results of the survey can be accessed by COATNET users at the extranet.
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Caritas Internationalis
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For the occasion of the Vienna Forum, organised within the framework of the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking by
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in February 2008, Caritas Internationalis prepared a statement, in which it calls
for migration and economic policies that reduce vulnerability to trafficking, but also that reaffirm tackling the root causes
of trafficking by sustained action towards the Millennium Development Goals. The Forum brought together more than 1,000 participants
from international and non-governmental organizations, governments, academia, the private and public sectors and civil society.
COATNET was represented there by Martina Liebsch (Caritas Germany), Karin Keil (Caritas Austria), Nickolay Iltchev (CRS EME),
Maya Ziadeh (Caritas Lebanon), and Carrie Pemberton (CHASTE).
Download the statement of Caritas Internationalis here or visit http://www.caritas.org.
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CHASTE
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Churches Alert to Sex Trafficking Across Europe organised a conference “TACKLING DEMAND FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING”. The conference aimed at examining the impact of the Swedish Law on Prostitution, building strong alliances in
Britain
and internationally and identifying steps to change the cultural tide. The
UK
minister of state for crime reduction was present at the conference, which was attended by more than 140 participants. The
minister declared that he has been on a fact finding mission to study the Swedish systemand notes the importance of measures
offering alternatives for women who want to quit prostitution and initiatives to address the demand side of prostitution.
The
UK
government is now in a six month process of looking at how demand for paid sexual services can be more effectively limited
in the country. Among the conference’s participants were COATNET users
- Ivonne
van de Kar (SRTV, the
Netherlands
), Maura O ’Donohue (Medical Missionary of
Mary
,
Ireland
),
Imelda Poole
(
Caritas
Albania
) and
George Joseph
(Caritas
Sweden
) who spoke about the Swedish model of tackling the demand side. At the conference the most recent English speaking resource
for churches concerned with addressing trafficking for sexual exploitation was launched – the Real scandal of Sex Trafficking
has been commended by both London based Archbishops – the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminister and the Anglican Archbishop
of Canterbury.
Caritas India
On 14th and 15h of March 2008 in New Delhi, Caritas India under the leadership of National Commission for women (www.ncw.nic.in) organized consultation on Domestic Workers Bill, which was participated by 112 representatives of law enforcement agencies,
members of state Women' s Commission, NGOs working on domestic workers and the related issues, those working on migration
and combating human trafficking from different parts of the country. The purpose of the consultation was to review the Draft
Bill formulated by the National Commission for women in order to present it to the decision making bodies. The ultimate objective
of the Bill is to end exploitation of domestic workers and to ensure the recognition of their contribution to the improvement
of the quality of life and living standards of others. It also aimed at ensuring security and well being of domestic workers
through exercising their rights. The Bill when passed will become an important instrument to address human trafficking in
general and trafficking for domestic work in particular.
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Commission for Justice Peace Human Development Human Rights Secretariat (SETIK), Sri Lanka
On 16th June 2008, SETIK organized a press conference on the occasion of release of a docu-drama "The House of the Arabian
Child " based on real stories of migrants, and a book "The Travails of Sri Lankan Migrants " - a study report prepared by
Rev. Fr. George Sigamoney (on the photo) with the Migrants unit of SETIK Caritas Kandy. This book depicts the reality of the
very painful journey of Sri Lankan women who face the battle of life. Both the book and docu-drama are dedicated to COATNET.
The Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe
Some 80 representatives of churches, governments, trade unions, police and NGOs from 15 European countries met for an international
conference and workshop on trafficking in human beings in Bucharest from 27th to 30th March 2008. The three day workshop "Christian
action against trafficking - going beyond", which was co-organised by the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe and
the Romanian ecumenical association of churches AIDRom, looked at the particular challenges of trafficking for forced labour.
The workshop is the first of a series of CCME activities aimed at mapping and sharing best practice against trafficking for
forced labour. Click here to read CCME press release of 31st March.
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