“The Chapter takes cognisance of the many situations and events which
contribute to the abuse of women. We therefore take steps in collaboration with
other groups to minimize the evil effects of trafficking and prostitution.”
(South African Provincial Chapter 2006 – Acts of Chapter)
As we became aware that the trafficking in human persons is the most heinous
of organised crime that affects every country in the world, we realised that the
sisters of the South African Province are being called to do what we can to
combat this evil.
The first steps.
South Africa is a country of origin, transit and destination for trafficked persons
and so, much work can be done on many fronts. The only way that we can begin
to combat trafficking is by working with others. At an inter-congregational
meeting held in Pretoria in May, the decision was made to form a core working
committee that would research trafficking in human persons in general and in
South Africa in particular. The committee met with members of the International
Organisation for Migration (IOM) who gave us posters and information brochures
that could be distributed at churches and schools. This was the first step.
A field worker from IOM was invited to speak to the students of Rosebank Mercy
School in Johannesburg. The girls were greatly affected by what they heard
about trafficking. In fact one of them was inspired to write a play about
trafficking. This was staged for the other students and their parents who were
greatly moved by the performance.
Southern African Counter Trafficking Training Course – Cape Town
In October, the IOM organised a counter trafficking workshop for women
religious from Southern Africa. Three Mercy Sisters, Kathleen Power, Aine Lohan
and Colleen Wilkinson, were invited to participate in this training. 42 sisters
gathered at the Schoenstatt Retreat Centre in Cape Town for the workshop.
The course began with a presentation on the root causes of trafficking. An
increase in poverty, globalisation and the feminisation of migration make
millions of human beings easy prey for traffickers. Factors that contribute to
trafficking include:
 discrimination against certain groups of persons
 lack of effective legislation (as in South Africa)
 low rate of enforcement of laws where they do exist
 the brain drain, arm (labour) drain and care drain from the southern
hemisphere to the countries in the north.
The second day of the workshop brought the horrors of trafficking nearer home:
we heard of the activities of traffickers in our own country and the health risks
associated with this modern form of slavery.
The last three days were devoted to training in basic skills on how to help a
victim of trafficking and how to deal with burn-out which is a very real risk for
persons dealing with the trauma and suffering experienced in this type of work.
On the final day the sisters met in groups according to their geographical
locations, to make plans for the future. A follow-up workshop will be held in
Johannesburg in March 2008.
Participants of the Southern African Counter-Trafficking
Workshop
International Conference of Women Religious – Rome
Between October 15th and 20th 2007, women religious from around the world
met in Rome to form a global network aimed at combating human trafficking. 33
sisters from 26 countries and representing 25 congregations participated in the
conference. Colleen Wilkinson RSM was asked by the Leadership Conference of
Consecrated Life to represent South African religious in Rome.
The conference, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy see and the Italian
Union of Major Superiors, brought together women religious already active in the
field of combating human trafficking. The aim was to develop and strengthen
networking mechanisms and communication so as to address the problem of
trafficking in persons (TIP) in countries of origin, transit and destination.
The programme included lectures by international TIP experts. Dr Esohe
Agathise of IROKO shared her expertise on the strength of networking between
countries, and further information on networking was shared by Sebastien
Dechamps of Caritas Internationalis and Natalia Kovaliv of COATNET (Christian
Organisations Against Trafficking in Women Network). The participants also
presented reports on the trafficking situation in their respective countries and
how women religious are responding.
The last session of the conference was open to other religious residing in Rome
and to the media. The sisters had prepared a public statement on trafficking in
human persons and this was read at this session. The statement and reports of
the conference have been published in Catholic newspapers around the world.
Brenda Dolphin RSM, Andreja Caks DC of SVdP, Colleen
Wilkinson RSM and Henrietta Adindu SHCJ at the closing
session of the Conference on Human Trafficking
Collaboration
The sisters in Pretoria have established a shelter for abused women. This shelter
is also a place of safety for women who have been trafficked and are waiting for
repatriation to their own countries. IOM has a contract with the shelter to
provide this service while their staff arrange for travel documents for the
women.
The problem is so vast there is a danger of our being overwhelmed by it. Let us
remember that we are not alone: we have the support of our foundress who
would definitely have involved herself in this struggle: we have infinite heavenly
support as well as the support of many other organisations and individuals
equally devoted to ridding our society of this scourge.
“The great tragedy of our world is all the people who have done nothing because
they saw they could only do a little.” (A quotation at the entrance to Robben Island – Cape
Town.)