-
Touched by the lives, the joys and suffering of these trafficked women (The Congregation)
July 28, 2015
As the second World Day Against Trafficking in Persons ( 30 July) approaches, my thoughts are raised once again to the all-pervasive global problem of human trafficking and to its severe implications for victims. They are the women, men, and children from every country in the world caught in the web of modern slavery. Some are trafficked for forced labour, some for forced marriage, others for organ removal, but the vast majority in Eur…
-
“Thus we go on” - Ending Sex Trafficking, Realising Catherine’s Vision in Our World Today
July 28, 2015
Sex trafficking is a growing problem in Ireland and around the world. ¼ The work of the Mercy community to end this dreadful trade in human beings is rooted in Catherineüs mission to protect vulnerable women and children from exploitation. Catherineüs sense of the injustices faced by women and girls is as pertinent to the Mercy mission today as it was when she first opened her house on Baggot Street. During the Young Mercy Leader…
-
Reducing Misery – Abolishing Human Trafficking
July 28, 2015
Human trafficking or modern-day slavery is the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or slavery. Jeanne Christensen with the Mercy table at the Ignite Conference in St. Louis, March 2014 The two primary forms of human trafficking are sex trafficking in which persons are coerced to engage in commercial sex act and labor trafficking in which persons are forced to work aga…
-
Educating Students and Raising Awareness about Human Trafficking
July 28, 2015
Not knowing much about human trafficking, I got involved in this area as a result of an invitation from the Congregation Leadership team. The subsequent journey has been an eye-opener. Trafficking in NZ is relatively hidden and certainly not in the same scale as some parts of the world. Therefore my focus has been on education and raising awareness. The tradition of mercy invites us all to do what we can for those in need and was h…
-
Human Trafficking/Modern Slavery is Happening in my Neighbourhood - What Can I do about it?
July 27, 2015
The Human Trafficking (HT) or Modern Slavery (MS) workshop at the Young Mercy Leaders' Pilgrimage was designed to be an inter-active one. Tables were arranged to accommodate five students and staff members sitting together as a group throughout the session. After a brief introduction, which included some questions and answers to ensure everyone understood the terminology of MS. Students were invited to pick up the bundle of laminated…
-
I happy! I go jail, no work.
July 27, 2015
These are not the words uttered by any normal young woman. No one usually prefers going to jail to going to work. Combatting Human Trafficking Campaign in Pretoria Malee* was brought to Mercy House – a shelter for victims of domestic violence and victims of human trafficking run by the Mercy Sisters in Pretoria - by officials of the Depa…
-
Mercy Investments Update
December 8, 2014
Report from Pat Zerega, Senior Director of Shareholder Advocacy, Mercy Investment Services, Inc. Mercy Investment Services has been busy concluding one shareholder season and preparing for the next. We are pleased that MGM grand has developed a human rights policy to include child sex trafficking. Other work this year has focused on the merger of several airlines. US Air has merged with American, United with Continental and Delta is s…
-
Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans
November 30, 2014
Report for Mercy Global Action by Carole McDonald rsm Victorian Convenor 15 ACRATH members were in Canberra for advocacy from 22nd - 25th Sept. In Parliament teams of three or four were formed for meetings with politicians and/or their Advisors. This included 48 Members of the House of Representatives and 17 Senators. There were also several meetings outside Parliament, including the Papal Nuncio, Australian Institute of Criminology, A…
-
MECPATHS (Mercy Efforts to Counter Child Prositution and Trafficking in the Hospitality Sector)
November 29, 2014
Mercy Global Action update prepared by Ruth Kilcullen - MECPATH¼ Campaign Manager ¼ The MECPATHS campaign to raise awareness of child sex trafficking in Irish hotels has made good progress in recent months. The following are key developments in the campaign since our last update: Partnership with the Irish Hotels Federation The new President of the IHF has officially lent his support to the campaign and will circulate a letter of en…
-
Brief Report / MGA re Human Trafficking work in Ireland
November 29, 2014
Report prepared by Mary Ryan rsm Work with Teacher Organisation. Over the Summer months when schools were closed Apt ( Act to prevent Human Trafficking) members attended & gave presentations to major gatherings of teachers One to second level teacher union ¼To National Chaplainüs Association To Religious Education Teachersü AGM Members spoke at the National Ploughing Champions where we exhibited & distributed an…
-
Update on Opposing Human Trafficking Activities Among Aotearoa New Zealand Mercies
November 28, 2014
Report from Anna Nicholls rsm Two of our sisters have been attending the ANZRATH meetings, they have had presentations from ECPAT and are currently exploring information around underage prostitution in South Auckland and trying to get some media coverage. I was the keynote speaker at the Australasian Mercy Secondary Schools Conference in Melbourne in October and so used my presentation (and one of the small group workshop sessions …
-
Human Trafficking ‘ Mercy and Justice shall meet.’
July 29, 2014
Our organisation ANZRATH (Aotearoa NZ Religious against Trafficking of Humans) began in 2013. It consists of a small group of Sisters, Brothers and Lay people. I joined it over a year ago with another Mercy Sister, Valerie Gunnion. We meet regularly and I am inspired and sustained by the enthusiasm and quiet dedication of each member. As a Mercy sister I believe that what I can contribute to the group is very much part of the wor…
-
Institute of Our Lady of Mercy (UK) Summary Update
June 23, 2014
Institute of Our Lady of Mercy (UK) Summary Update for MGA Working Group on Trafficking and Prostitution This activity/involvement is mostly undertaken in or through women@thewell (w@w), which whilst being an independent charity, was initially seed funded by IOLM and continues to get considerable support from them, both as direct financial funding and through the rent free use and upkeep the building. Additionally, IOLM are involved at…
-
Mercy Investment Services Update
June 23, 2014
This year Mercy Investment Services filed resolutions on trafficking with four companies. Three were trucking firms; Con-Way Inc., J.B. Hunt Transportation Services, Landstar System, and one new hotel system MGM Resorts International. All four were successfully withdrawn when the companies agreed to develop a human rights policy to reflect the trafficking issue, to have training available for staff and to publicize the issue internally…
-
Brief Report Mercy Global Action—Trafficking Ireland, June 2014
June 23, 2014
Act to Prevent Trafficking (APT) comprising women & men religious from 27 congregations continues to carry out its main objectives ? Raise awareness ? Advocacy for change in present legislation ? Networking with Religious in Europe (RENATE) ? Networking with missionaries & returned missionaries in & from Africa 1. APT is pleased to say that the Irish Hierarchy are now committed to take up the issue of Trafficking and have reque…
-
Mercy House South Africa - a Shelter for Victims of Human Trafficking
June 22, 2014
In 1998 our congregation, the Sisters of Mercy, saw the need to offer special assistance to victims of domestic violence in South Africa, and so in 2000 we opened a shelter for these traumatized women. This transitional home is a place of safety for women in distress. Here they receive basic comforts and professional care according to their needs. We offer individual counselling as well as skills training so that the women can regain…
-
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas West Midwest Community – Justice Advocate - Human Trafficking
June 22, 2014
UPDATE May 2014 Continue education and advocacy efforts within the West Midwest Community using an issue-specific e-list and communityüs internal electronic newsletter (West Midwest Messenger). There are now 208 people on my e-list, representing WMW members, ministries, other religious communities, laypersons, associates, etc. It is an inclusive list! The spring issue of Living Mercy (sent to WMW donors, friends, family, associates,…
-
Anti Trafficking Australia – ACRATH Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans
June 20, 2014
The Australian Sisters of Mercy work with ACRATH. At our National Executive Meeting in February,¼ Anne Tormey rsm (South Australia) was elected as National President of ACRATH and¼ Carmel Heagerty rsm (Victoria) was elected National Secretary. I was re-elected as Regional Coordinator (Victoria) ACRATH. Other positions are held by Religious of other Congregations. Thursday and Friday 29th and 30th May, the National Executive members …
-
Brief Report on MECPATH Campaign, June 2014.
June 19, 2014
The MECPATH Team came together at the end of May to look back on all that we have achieved, and think ahead about how to best move forward to achieve our goals. Reports from the Team reflect that it has been a busy period and progress made to date has been deeply encouraging. We have reached out to over 100 hotels across Ireland and the response from our colleagues in the hospitality sector has been fantastic. The passion that all of u…
-
Short Report from Aotearoa New Zealand
June 18, 2014
Things are still simmering away for the musical we are hoping to do but we are aiming for it to be done by the end of the year and performed at the start of next year. We also pushed fair trade chocolate for Easter through the Congregational newsletter and our Facebook page. My google site continues to be used and more schools are picking up trafficking as an issue for studying in Year 12 Religious studies. Anna Nicholls rsm…
