Every year, APT (Act to Prevent Trafficking), arranges two public events. The Spring event takes place around the feast of St Josephine Bakhita, 8th February and the Autumn event around European Anti Human Trafficking Day, 18th October. This year, the Spring event was a conference with the title “Hidden in Plain Sight”. APT’s main function is awareness raising and we have found, in our various addresses to groups around the country that there is a great deal of unawareness of the prevalence of human trafficking in Ireland. We hoped to address this in our conference; hence the theme.

A Film & Arts Festival, “See It! End It!” was held March 29-30 to raise awareness of human trafficking at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro. RSC’s were part of the planning and present to support this event. Since so many films illustrate the violation of human rights and subsequently are very dark, the festival was enriched with dance, live bands, spoken work and steppers, paintings and visual arts. Artists and vendors with booths displayed their fair trade products, and organizations that help support youth at risk provided materials.

Sr. Kathleen Bryant, in our Californian Region contributed an article to the special GSR Edition for World Anti-Human Trafficking Day. Click below to read the article.

The Advocacy programme with the African Faith and Justice Network Nigeria (AFJNN) took place in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria from 17th to 23rd of June, 2018. The five sisters from different congregations who were present at the event planned and mapped out activities for the one week advocacy visits to different stakeholders in the State on human trafficking, child abuse/neglect and capacity building.

Our sisters in Nigeria participated in the activities of World Day against Trafficking in Persons on 30 July. They joined the entire Congregation and the whole world to express solidarity with all victims of human trafficking as part of the Congregation’s commitment for its abolition. Each community participated fully in different ways.

The anti-human trafficking team in the Nigerian Region organized two days workshop for the sisters in the Region. The purpose was to equip the sisters with more knowledge and skills in our commitment in combating human trafficking in our different ministries and environment.

As we grow in our understanding of the nature and scope of human trafficking we become more aware of its different aspects and are in a better position to challenge it on its various fronts. One aspect that is being better understood is the supply chains companies use for production of their goods.

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On the 27th of November, four of our sisters joined in a practical advocacy training program organized by Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) held in Benin City, Edo State.

Poverty, unemployment, corruption, and greed has increased the rate of human and organ trafficking in Nigeria. On 25th January, I gave a talk to Students of Good Shepherd Secondary School, Oyede, Delta State. The two hundred and seventy students were so curious to know more about the modern slavery of human trafficking.

The highlight of 2017 for our Inter-Congregational Anti-Human Trafficking Team was our meeting in Sydney Australia in October, 2017 for our biennial meeting with some of our colleagues. Those who attended the meeting are looking forward to working together during 2018 to continue to advocate and work for an end to Human Trafficking.