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Root Causes of Human Trafficking and Slavery in Parts of the Mercy World
July 29, 2018
This year the MIA-Global Action group ?Opposing Human Traffickingü is exploring ways to expand their mandate, to encompass issues related to the ?Displacement of Peoplesü. During a recent conference call meeting, participants agreed to share the root causes underpinning human trafficking in their countries. In this compilation, reflecting some of the responses received, it is possible to ident…
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A True Story from South Africa: Will She Ever Be Truly Free?
July 25, 2018
In describing herself, Gina (not her real name) says she is a recovered drug addict. What drove her to drugs and prostitution was the anger and pain she experienced after being gang raped at the age of nine. She also says that she did not choose to be a prostitute because she liked or wanted drugs. She was forced into prostitution. But she feels strongly that social conditions exist that suppo…
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Root Causes of Human Trafficking and Slavery in Kenya (The Congregation)
July 23, 2018
Kenya is one of the countries adversely affected by human trafficking and modern day slavery both within the country (internally) and without (externally). In the recent times Kenya has been on the IOM (International Organization on Migration) and UNGIFT (United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Trafficking) international observation list, as one of the countries that act as a recruitment, h…
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The Body Holds the Story (Newfoundland)
July 15, 2018
I wrote this poem to describe the journey of a girl who had been a victim of human trafficking the body holds the story chapter 1: birth until 11 years a tiny bud so fresh so new nurtured by sunbeams watered by dew drops rooted in soil rich and deep blossomed in the garden blew carefree in the wind danced vibrantly amidst others pulsating with life chapter 2: ages 12 years-14 but chaos and confusion penetrated the ga…
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MECPATHS: Extending Our Outreach (The Congregation)
July 15, 2018
MECPATHS (Mercy Efforts for Child Protection Against Trafficking with the Hospitality Sector) continues to deliver on our efforts to prevent child trafficking within an ever-changing world. As we journey through daily life within our own communities and explore those who live around us, challenges to protected childhoods continue to emerge. With hundreds of thousands of predators …
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Update from Mercy Investment Services (MIS)
July 11, 2018
During the 2018 shareholder advocacy season, Mercy Investment Services engaged 18 companies on human trafficking and human rights and filed five resolutions. Human trafficking engagements expanded this year to include JetBlue, Marten Transport, Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines. This year, Mercy filed resolutions asking trucking companies Marten Transport and Saia to report o…
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Q & A with Sr. Angela Reed, seeking to address the root causes of human trafficking
June 27, 2018
'Australian Mercy Sr. Angela Reed represents Mercy International Association / Mercy Global Action at the United Nations. As Mercy International Association's global action coordinator, Reed oversees her congregation's advocacy work at the global body, with a particular focus on the trafficking of women and girls. [Sr] Reed holds a doctorate from RMIT University in M…
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Christine Carolan (ACRATH) on Curbing Modern Slavery
June 26, 2018
What does modern slavery look like? What facilitates it? What can be done to protect human beings from such exploitation? Eureka Street (a publication of the Australian Jesuits) consulting editor, Fatima Measham, recently spoke with ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) National Executive Officer, Christine Carolan, about the existence of human traff…
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Report from South Africa on Trafficking in Persons
May 28, 2018
¼So far this year, Mercy House Pretoria has admitted 8 new survivors of Trafficking in Persons – one from Lesotho, one from Thailand and the rest are South Africans. Two ladies who were placed in Mercy House in 2016, one South African and one from Zimbabwe, were at last allowed to return home. They were witnesses in their traffickers court case which was held last year. In Februar…
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Global Mercy Concern Aotearoa New Zealand Report for 30 April 2018.
May 1, 2018
In late January 2018, I was requested by the Leadership Team to join the Global Mercy Concern Aotearoa New Zealand Group. My area is to co-ordinate the Displacement of Peoples dimension. The Human Slavery/Trafficking direction links with my having attended the “Tip of the Iceberg? Conference, Wellington, August 2017 on human slavery in Aotearoa New Zealand and a current research interest on th…
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Report from MECPATHS (Ireland)
May 1, 2018
Since our last report, the following developments have taken place at MECPATHS Redesign of Logo (change of wording) Old Logo: Mercy Efforts to Counter Child Prostitution and Trafficking in the Hospitality Sector. New Logo: Mercy Efforts for Child Protection Against Trafficking with the Hospitality Sector. Redesign of Training Ma…
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Report to MIA Working Group on Human Trafficking, April 2018 (Americas)
May 1, 2018
¼I continue education and advocacy efforts within and beyond the Mercy Community, using an issue-specific e-list and our communityüs internal electronic newsletter. There are close to 300 people on my e-list, representing Mercy community members and associates, ministry colleagues, other religious communities, laypersons, students, etc. It is an inclusive list. Besid…
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Brief Report on Opposing Human Trafficking October Conference Call Meeting
October 9, 2017
Members of the MIA-Global Action working group on Opposing Human Trafficking from Australia, Ireland and America met via conference call on October 3rd. Reports from members were circulated prior to the call providing the opportunity to share initiatives and best practice and to alert the group to concerns and emerging issues. Reports: MIA-MGA¼at the UN …
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Update on Anti-Trafficking work by MIA- MGA at the UN
October 4, 2017
Report:¼Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons; High Level Meeting of the GA to Review Plan; Reception at the Holy see MIssion; CSTIP; NY¼Declaration and the Global Compact on Migration; Other Events 1. Preparation work for the Review of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons Preparation work for the review of the Glob…
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Addressing Human Trafficking: Report from The Congregation
October 3, 2017
Steps taken by The Congregation through MECPATHS¼to address the issue of Human trafficking: Aisling Murray to increase her working hours to 18 per week. Ann Mara was taken on staff to replace Ruth Kilcullen. New Website designed and content developed. Letters to MEPs – Letter drafted for lobbying purposes. …
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Report from Newfoundland
October 1, 2017
Projects happening within our province: Over the past months I have been involved in preparing a power point presentation on human trafficking. I was asked to provide an education and awareness session to the clergy of one of our dioceses. I used slides, hymns, prayers and creative pictures in the power point. Part 1 focussed on facts/figures and Part 11 on the response of the church. Part 11 evoked a spirited discussion in terms o…
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Environmental Refugees and Human Trafficking
September 30, 2017
U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking is a collaborative, faith-based network that offers educational programs and materials, supports access to survivor services, and engages in legislative advocacy to eradicate modern-day slavery. Following recent climate disasters, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and the earthquake in Mexico, members of the U.S. Catholic Sist…
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Report from Mercy Investments
September 30, 2017
Mercy Investment Services (MIS) work in the area of Human Trafficking So much attention has been paid to the issue of trafficking in the last few months here. Legislation moves slowly but we are still hopeful that a bill will be completed on the Business Supply Chain Transparency Act. In the meantime we are engaging hotels, trucking companies and airlines to either join the Ecpat …
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October Report from USA
September 27, 2017
Primary foci of ministry are education, awareness raising and legislative advocacy. Essential to achieving the foci are collaboration, networking and coalition-building. Specific things in which I have been engaged are: Presenting to high school and university students, health care personnel and a wide variety of groups and organization…
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Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) - A Critique
September 20, 2017
The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is produced annually by the US government to provide an up to date account of human trafficking or modern slavery in every country. Its authenticity and therefore value as revealed in this short critique, is increasingly being questioned. In introducing the report, the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the 2017 Report “f…
