The public session received worldwide media coverage

19 October 2007

Results of an Anti-trafficking Training Seminar, October 19, 2007

On October 19, 2007, at a Public Session of the anti-trafficking Training Seminar organized by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See and the Italian Union of Major Superiors (USMI), the creation of the International Network of Religious Against Trafficking in Persons (INRATIP) was announced. The network is unique – the first-ever international religious anti-trafficking network.

Moderated by Embassy Vatican’s Chargé d’Affaires Christopher Sandrolini, a Public Session concluded the week-long seminar for women religious from 26 counties working to combat modern-day slavery. Chargé Sandrolini said, “The government and people of the United States funded this course because they want to make our world a better place -- a place where all people are treated with dignity and respect. Americans know that we can work in partnership with people of faith to fulfill this noble goal. A world in which people are forced into sexual slavery or indentured labor is an insecure world, and one which permits organized crime to operate with impunity. This is not the kind of world we want and so we seek partners for good, for change. We have found them in people like the sisters who have participated in this week’s Training Seminar, but also in agencies like the International Organization for Migration, the International Union of Superiors General, the many religious congregations across the globe and of course, the Holy See.”

The Public Session included such distinguished speakers as Monsignor Pietro Parolin, Vatican Undersecretary of State, who expressed hope that greater attention will translate into more decisive responses to the problem. "Human trafficking is a critical (issue) for the Holy See," he said. He offered the Vatican's full support for "the increasing numbers of consecrated persons engaged in this fight."

Sr. Vittoria Tomarelli of USMI addressed the gathering, as did Ms. Marcella Lucidi, Undersecretary of the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Ms. Lucidi has been at the forefront of drafting new Italian legislation to combat human trafficking.

Embassy Vatican has also worked with the Union of Superiors General (USG), a confederation of male religious orders, in its fight against human trafficking. On behalf of USG, Father Pietro Trabucco offered insight into the role of male religious in fighting the demand element of trafficking, as well as his hope that male and female religious orders could work together on combating this human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Sr. Vitoria de Castejon, Secretary General of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and Sr. Bernadette Sangma, the Union’s delegate for trafficking issues, also addressed the audience – comprised of the Training Seminar participants, Vatican representatives, members of the Holy See Diplomatic Corps, and members of the NGO and Vatican media communities.

The final word went to unsung hero Sister Eugenia Bonetti, who has been a beacon for the voiceless victims of human trafficking in Italy and around the world. “To be a missionary today is to be where people are living and suffering. It is being the Good Samaritan, wherever you find the needy. I am a missionary in my own country, living the Gospel of Christ. The women and girls we help are so grateful, so responsive to love and charity. By forming the first worldwide network of women religious, sisters everywhere will be able to unite within an international network to share best practices, experiences, and solutions. We must work in communion, not in competition.”

U.S. President George W. Bush sent a letter to the participants of the Training Seminar, affirming the support of the American people in battling human trafficking, “one of the worst offenses against human dignity.” He wrote, “It is a modern-day form of slavery, treating women and children as commodities for sale to the highest bidder. As members of the global community, we are called by conscience and compassion to bring this cruel practice to an end. Those gathered for this seminar are helping to fight this great evil by harnessing the energy and resources of individuals guided by faith and dedicated to the cause of justice. [Their] efforts reflect the very best of the human spirit and help build a world where every life is respected”.

In their first official act, the nuns of INRATIP declared their purpose with the following Public Statement:

PUBLIC STATEMENT
Issued by
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF RELIGIOUS AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (INRATIP)

For Immediate Release
Institute of Maria SS Bambina
October 19, 2007
Rome, Italy

Introduction
At their first international conference on human trafficking, Catholic Sisters from 26 countries and all continents gathered in Rome. Statistics indicate that there are 800 congregations and over 1 million Catholic sisters in the world. Delegates to the conference committed to use their personnel, resources and historical commitment to those living in situations of poverty to eradicate human trafficking - a modern day form of slavery. The following is their statement to the world.

Definition
Trafficking in human beings means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons using threat, force, coercion, fraud, deception or abuse of power by payments to achieve consent of control over a person for the purpose of exploitation. Trafficking in children requires only the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall mean among other things, sexual exploitation, domestic service, forced labor or removal of organs. (Palermo Protocol)

To Victims
We say to you who have been trafficked especially women and children - We stand with you, you are not alone. We will fight with you to release you from your bondage. In solidarity with you, we will confront the traffickers. We challenge unjust systems and those who exploit you. Do not give up hope.

To Traffickers
We, the women religious from across the world say to you traffickers: Stop the exploitation! Look at the children, women, and men you are destroying with your physical and psychological abuse. By violating their fundamental human rights you damage, deny and destroy their identities, names and status. We condemn these actions as well as the subtle ways you use to exploit them.

To Demanders and Exploiters
We call on you who exploit women, children and men for commercial sex or forced labor to stop buying human beings, for without your demand the evil of human trafficking would not exist. We call on you to realize that all women, children and men have equal rights and dignity and that in your demand you cause irreparable harm and lose your own dignity.

To Governments
We acknowledge that many governments have laws against trafficking and call for an increased enforcement of these laws. We further call on the governments of the world to address the issues of economic inequality, poverty and corruption which lead to the destruction of so many lives. The physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological torture of millions of people, hidden in back streets, ghettoes, hotels and parlors all over the world is criminal activity. We urge governments to create and implement policies and strong legislation which criminalize the exploiters. Good governance demands that traffickers do not benefit from the vulnerability of others.

To All Religious Leaders
We appreciate all the religious leaders who have supported us in the fight against trafficking in persons. We call on all religious leaders to work to end religious practices and customs that discriminate against women and girls, and hence contribute to the attitude of gender inequality underlying the growth of human trafficking in our world today.

We urge all religious leaders to denounce injustice and violence against women, children and men who are sexually exploited or used in the sale of organs. We encourage you to relentlessly use your pastoral responsibility to defend and promote the human dignity of persons exploited by these forms of slavery.

To People of Good Will
We urge all people of good will to open your hearts to the victims and to act to change the root causes of human trafficking - poverty, gender inequality, discrimination, greed and corruption. Each small action of restoring dignity to another person furthers the dignity of each one of us. Our hope rests in a vision of humanity which honors the principle that no woman, child or man is a commodity for sale. Relying on the love of God, we ask you to join us in our prayers and our actions to eradicate this social and moral evil.