‘Human Trafficking happens in plain sight’

Deborah Castellano Lubov

“Human trafficking is a crime that's still a little bit under the radar. You know, it's happening in plain sight. And in the United States, we tell people it's happening in every zip code, and we must learn to see it and deal with it in a way that is safe, both for survivors and for those who would like to report it.”

In an interview with Vatican News, the president emeritus of the Alliance to End Human Trafficking, the American member-designate of Talitha Kum, the American sister Ann Oestreich, IHM, made this observation, on the sidelines of the 2nd General Assembly of Talitha Kum which is being held north of Rome this month. week, marking fifteen years since the creation of the network.

Talitha Kum is the International Network of Consecrated Life against Human Trafficking. Based in Rome, the Network is an initiative of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG). Talitha Kum coordinates efforts to combat nun trafficking, facilitating networking, communication and training, in accordance with UISG strategic planning and the social doctrine of the Catholic Church.

Traffic factors

After having long been the regional representative of Talitha Kum for North America, Sister Oestreich highlighted the presence not only of religious sisters at the Assembly, but also of lay men and women, survivors and other guests, who helped “shed light on bigger questions.” and “give us a better understanding of the economic forces that exacerbate human trafficking around the world.”

“This rampant and rapid growth crime,” she observed, “is growing exponentially and we need people who will join us in the fight to end it and educate themselves.” This is not an exclusive commitment between Catholic sisters, she suggested, but rather a welcome invitation to lay people, young people, professionals and people of other faiths.

“We must come together in this fight,” she said.

“More than 70% of those who migrate to the United States are victims of trafficking”

Sister Ann responded to Vatican News' question by asking what she perceives to be the most dangerous phenomenon when it comes to human trafficking in the United States.

“Right now, one of the most dangerous phenomena,” she said, “is the forced migration of people arriving in the United States.”

“What our State Department found is that between 72 and 77 percent of people who migrate to the United States are trafficked. We have a problem with work authorization. When people arrive, they have to wait 180 days to file a work authorization, which makes them so vulnerable to human traffickers because they have to work to survive,” she said.

“Therefore,” she continued, “we have teamed up with people who work in the field of migration to educate our legislators and the public about forced migration and the plight of migrants who enter our country” .

Sr. Abby: Education is key

Talitha Kum's international coordinator, Sister Abby Avelino, also spoke with Vatican News about the Network's renewed commitment to meeting the challenge of combating trafficking, even as the phenomenon worsens.

Highlighting the progress, she highlighted the excellent educational work that contributes to minimizing vulnerability, noting that according to 2023 statistics, the sisters, through education on the subject, have been able to reach almost 800,000 people at worldwide.

Sr Barron: 90 countries present to fight against the scourge

Likewise, the President of the UISG, Sister Mary Barron OLA, Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, recognized the immense fruits of the last 15 years but recognized the still long road ahead.

“We have participants from 90 countries. You have sisters, lay people, men, women, survivors, activists, really the whole range of people engaged in the fight against this scourge”, of which she recognized the The impact is clearly visible. in terms of reach, awareness and network growth.

Recalling the enrichment offered by survivors and young people to the Network and the Assembly, she suggested that support to fight together against this scourge is always necessary “from all those involved, of whatever belief, of whatever sex whatsoever.”

Blind to how trafficking is perpetrated

“We are blind to the many ways in which trafficking is perpetuated,” lamented Sister Barron, insisting: “We must open our eyes. We have a great responsibility.”

“As global Christians, we must first and foremost uncover what really drives human trafficking, including the sweatshops that still provide us with the beautiful items we want to wear and the makeup we want, and so on. following.” Therefore, she stressed, “we need to become more aware and better informed about the supply chain ourselves, and therefore more likely to make these connections.”

Survivor: For traffickers to stop selling humans, demand must drop

Meanwhile, survivor Kris, who is now executive director of a network in the United States that helps those who were victims like her, spoke to Vatican News about her ordeal.

During the interview, she expressed her hope that by the next Talitha Kum General Assembly, the issue of “demand” would be addressed, observing that the phenomenon would decrease if there was no “demand”. buyers” for human beings. In this regard, she stressed, both law enforcement and education have an important role to play.

Sr Angela: The plight of trafficked girls and women in Africa

Still in Africa, Vatican News learned of the challenges recounted by the African sister, Sister Angela Nemilaki Kapitingana, who recalled the need to always see the dignity of all, like Christ, and deplored the reality of forced marriage of girls and women in certain cultures. across the African continent.

“Many women and girls are trafficked for many reasons,” she noted, but to counter this she called for their education, empowerment and the right information.

Sister Angela shared with us her first experience with a trafficked person. “The young woman was 22 years old and was a victim of trafficking with a child.”

“Seeing her body burned and traumatized, psychologically, for me, was truly devastating. While I instinctively began by tending to her physical needs, she quickly made me understand that what she wanted most, It was that I listened to him.”

“She asked me a question: Am I still a human being? Following the experience she had, I didn't have the answer, but just by being there, listening, she slowly 'unfolded' her story. The more she shared her story, the more I saw that we were building this mutual trust, where she could feel and realize that she was truly respected and that she could claim her dignity.”

“That,” Sister Angela concluded, “was my first experience. This moved me throughout this day and that is why I will always continue to fight against human trafficking.”