On 13 th September 2023, IHREC held the launch of their second annual report on trafficking in human beings in Ireland in Dublin, Ireland. The conference, attended by RENATE members and fellow colleagues in the fight against Human Trafficking hosted a number of panellists and discussions on the findings, recommendations and future plans for the continued fight against human trafficking in Ireland.

The IHREC report is available to read here

Chief Commissioner Sinead Gibney discussed some of the key recommendations from the second annual Trafficking in Human Beings in Ireland Report in a filmed interview published here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1701974163219431817

The September issue of the Stop Trafficking Newsletter has now been released, with a particular focus on the findings of the 2023 TIP Report. 

Read more here: https://sistersagainsttrafficking.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023_09_Stop-Trafficking-EN.pdf

On the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 30^th July 2023, Sr. Stanka Oršolić, Croatia, gave a short interview to the reporter Emina Dabo Hunjak about the abuse, exploitation and trafficking of children for the National Croatian Television Station. The interview was broadcast one month later on the religious program “Peace and All Good” on 3^rd September 2023. This date was the same as the release date for the movie “The Sound of Freedom” in Croatia.

Sr. Stanka’s interview can be found here.

Sr Stanka Oršolić

RENATE member Sr. Eilis Coe speaks to Dr. Matt Treacy on the very real and distressing situation of Human Trafficking in Ireland.

Read more here: https://gript.ie/slaves-held-amongst-us-we-need-to-do…/

Update from Sr. Victoria Šimić

On the very first day of the 2023/2024 school year, the students from 6th to 8th grade (ages 12 to 14) in the school in Posavski Podgajci, had the opportunity to reflect on the topic of human trafficking. The school was visited by a former employee of the school, L. Šimić, who taught English for several generations and as a nun, has been involved in preventive work against human trafficking for years.

Even at the beginning of the meeting, the students demonstrated basic knowledge about the various forms of exploitation of victims of human trafficking, like the illegal sale of organs, forced begging or drug selling, labor exploitation and the like.

Through work in five groups, each of which received a different quote from a victim of human trafficking, students had the opportunity to learn even more deeply about this issue through concrete, true examples. Most students conscientiously and responsibly participated in the group work and answered the questions related to each quote, and after working in a group, they presented their answers to the whole group.

Each student also received a leaflet with some additional information about human trafficking, such as the World Anti-Trafficking Day July 30 and the European Anti-Trafficking Day October 18th. The leaflet also contains a few thoughts on “How to stay safe on the Internet?”. It brings an interpretation of “The Blue Heart” campaign – an international anti-trafficking program launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Students can also read on the leaflet what human trafficking is, and some estimates at the world level about the victims themselves. On the back of the leaflet there is some information about Saint Bakhita, and a Prayer to her.

In the end, the children were encouraged to obey their parents and teachers, in order to first protect themselves from this serious crime, since today there are tens of millions of people around the world who are victims of human trafficking, even a third of whom are children.

For those who wanted to do more for the victims, Sr. Victoria, who led the meeting, encouraged them to pray the Prayer to Saint Bakhita.

Later, the conversation on the topic of human trafficking continued in a pleasant atmosphere in the Staff room with the teachers of the School in Posavski Podgajci.