Anti-Human Trafficking Report from the Irish Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy
August 25, 2012
Did you know that more people – children, women and men – have been trafficked, bought and sold, in the past decade than in the 400 years of the Slave Trade? This shocking truth is so contrary to our ‘Gospel/Mercy values of human dignity, justice, compassion, service and the alleviation of extreme poverty...’* that it is no surprise that Mercy International Association have chosen to address the issue.
*Congregational Policy for Pastoral Ministry
Trafficking, the buying and selling of human beings by criminals to make money, is happening across the globe. In recent times we have become aware of cases here in Ireland, in our villages and towns. Television programmes have brought the full horror into our consciousness. Many of you have made us very welcome when we presented workshops or talks in your province, and have asked: “What can we do?”
Over the past year we have linked with Sisters of Mercy worldwide and with Aine O’Connor in the UN, sharing our experience as members of APT (Act to Prevent Trafficking), and learning of best practice from the various countries.
One initiative which was developed by Mercy Investment Services in the US is a campaign to keep trafficking out of hotels in countries where Sisters of Mercy live and work. This involves inviting hotels to sign a Code of practice which has been developed by ECPAT (End Child Prostitution / Child Pornography and Trafficking). The Code has been adopted in many countries. Unfortunately Ireland is not one of these. It is time to act!
Over the next twelve months, we will develop a strategy for bringing the Code into effect in Ireland. This involves a number of steps.
-Researching the Code
-Forming alliances with other NGOs eg; APT (Act to Prevent Trafficking), Ruhama, Barnados, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Children’s’ Rights Alliance
- Linking with AHTU (Anti Human Trafficking Unit) in the Dept of Justice
-Linking with the Irish Hotels Federation
-Identifying hotel chains which have already signed in other countries, or are well disposed towards the spirit of the Code (i.e. building on success)
-Writing regular reports
- Keeping you aware through regular updates in mercy@live
Any and all interested sisters will be invited to join in the campaign. To help in the work a process of training will be provided. A sample letter for hotel managers will be made available, and you will be given the background information necessary to deal with any questions which may arise.
In the shorter term the immediate goal is to have the Code signed by two hotel chains and six independent hotels.
Ultimately it is proposed that it becomes the policy of Sisters of Mercy to hold Mercy events – Chapters, Assemblies, workshops, talks etc. in hotels which have signed up to the Code, and to make that policy known when booking venues.
Mary Ryan rsm and Sheila O’Gorman rsm
