Often one hears it stated that human trafficking is some random act whereby predominately young girls or women are randomly taken from their families or from the streets and sold into slavery or exploitation.
Sister Angela Reed rsm recently shared on the NCR’s Global Sisters Report how her work with trafficked women and girls in The Philippines challenges this view that being trafficked for sexual exploitation is a single, isolated event in their lives.
In quoting from stories told by the women themselves, Angela shows how their experiences “draw attention to human rights violations and systematic oppression.”
As we prepare to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on 30th July, Angela’s work comes as a salient reminder that advocacy and work to prevent human trafficking must focus on prevention. She calls for an awareness that if “adequate standards of living, quality education, safety and gender equality were in place for many girls and young women, then the vulnerability to trafficking would be reduced significantly. ”
Brigidine Sisters are engaged in advocating for the rights of trafficked people and for the provision of decent liveable standards in the various countries where we live and minister.
We give thanks for the work of so many people, particularly of women religious around the world, who advocate and support trafficked people and work to overcome the gender based inequalities in all communities. Brigidines are committed to continuing to raise awareness of these issues, support people who have been trafficked and use our voices and resources to advocate for change.
To read Angela’s interview click on the following link:
St Josephine Bakhita, Patron of trafficked people, pray for us and for all who work to eliminate prejudices and conditions that make women and girls vulnerable to being trafficked.