No more, no more!

Oh God, we didn’t see them. But you did, the hundreds and thousands of human beings Trafficked each year to join the millions who are trapped in modern-day slavery. Under terrible conditions, they work in factories, plough fields, harvest crops, work quarries, fill brothels, clean homes, and haul water.

Many are children with tiny fingers for weaving rugs and small shoulders for bearing rifles. Their labour is forced, their bodies beaten, their faces hidden from those who don’t really want to see them.

But you see them all, God of the poor. You hear their cry and you answer by opening our eyes, and breaking our hearts and loosening our tongues to insist:

No more. No more.

The campaign for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2023 is all about continuing to raise awareness of disturbing developments and trends and calling on governments, law enforcement, public services, and civil society to assess and enhance their efforts to strengthen prevention, identify and support victims, and end impunity.

Globally, national responses, particularly in developing States, appear to be deteriorating. Detection rates fell by 11% in 2020 and convictions plummeted by 27%, illustrating a worldwide slowdown in the criminal justice response to trafficking. The COVID-19 pandemic also changed the characteristics of trafficking, pushing it further underground and potentially increasing the dangers to victims by making the crime less likely to come to the attention of the authorities. In fact, 41% of victims who manage to escape their ordeal reach out to the authorities on their own initiative – another clear sign that anti-trafficking responses are falling short. (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime  (UNODC))

“Leave no one behind” is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind” – the 2023 Theme for this World Day, 30 July.

In the context of trafficking in persons, leaving people behind means

• failing to end the exploitation of trafficking victims,
• failing to support victim-survivors once they are free from their traffickers, and
• leaving identifiable groups vulnerable to traffickers.

At the implementation mid-point of the 2030 Agenda and ahead of the SDG Summit 2023 this year, it is crucial to raise awareness and reinforce global commitments to eliminate trafficking in persons as specifically mentioned in SDG 5, 8 and 16.

On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us redouble our efforts to detect, protect, and support survivors and leave no trafficking victim behind. Together, let us build a world where no one can ever be bought, sold, or exploited. (UN Secretary General)

Networking to abolish all forms of human trafficking

Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation (RENATE) was established by a group of religious representing several different congregations working against human trafficking in Europe. Renate network with Talitha Kum which is the International network of sisters working against trafficking in person. Renate also collaborates with many other networks within and outside Europe. Networking is the strength of RENATE.

‘RENATE endeavours to abolish all forms of human trafficking and exploitation that violates the human dignity and rights of persons. Throughout its European Network, RENATE adopts a Victim-Centred, Human Rights, Trauma-informed approach in relation to the Law.’ 

RENATE is asking you to be involved in the elimination of human trafficking by PRAYING, and praying together, whatever your religious beliefs and wherever you live!

You can pray alone or in a community, a parish, inviting people you know to join, so that God’s Heart will hear our prayer: He is the only One able to change people’s hearts.

“Human trafficking is an open wound on the body of contemporary society” ~ Pope Francis

See https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/endht/sgs-message-on-world-day-against-trafficking-in-persons.html

https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/endht/index.html

Also https://www.renate-europe.net/ 

and https://www.talithakum.info/en/about-us

https://www.uisg.org/en/news/Unveiling-of-the-sculpture-Let-The-Oppressed-Go-Free

and Facebook Brian O’Toole and RENATE