AMRAT

         Asian Movement of Women Religious Against Trafficking in Persons.

Introduction

Human Trafficking is a modern form of slavery which is intrinsically linked to migration.  Combating trafficking- in-persons is the one of the most pressing challenges facing the international community today. The victims of this insidious crime each year number in the hundreds of thousands, possibly millions. Because of its No individual country has the power to eradicate trafficking in persons alone because of its transnational nature. Organizations such as the International Organization for Migrants (IOM) are working in new ways to combat this terrible world- wide plague.

Creating Awareness

One of the ways to combat trafficking is to work in partnership with like-minded organizations. Such a partnership is developed between International Organization for Migrants and International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in response to the call of Vatican in1998.  Counter-Trafficking Training Programs for religious Personnel are jointly organized by IOM and UISG. Sr Bernadette Sangma FMA(India) was the representative of UISG till May 2010, while Mr Stefano Volpicelli(Italy) represents IOM. They successfully organized the workshops in various regions of different continents and created a world-wide network of women religious working against trafficking.

After working for 12 years continually Sr Bernadette Sangma FMA has handed over her responsibility of training the religious personnel and strengthening the ‘International network of consecrated life against trafficking in persons ‘TALITHA KUM’ to Sr Estrella Castalone FMA(Philippines).

The South Asian Workshop to train women religious  was organized and conducted jointly by IOM and UISG. Sr. Jyoti bs, the delegate of UISG-India facilitated the process and arranged the logistics.  First phase of the training  was  for 6 days  at Raia, Goa at the Seminary campus of the SVD Priests, from 18^th – 24^th November, 2009. 43 participants representing 18 congregations from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri- lanka reflected together  on this global crime and searched for the means to prevent it effectively. The workshop was sponsored by Conrad Hilton Sisters’ Fund from USA.

The following topics were explained by the resource persons through case studies and power point presentations:

Trafficking in Persons and migration; trafficking and gender; social and institutional responses; trafficking and health; prevention; helping relationship; empowerment and spiritual support for preventing burn out.

Participants were then grouped on regional basis to evolve an action plan  as each region of India and South Asian countries had unique ground realities to deal with.

South Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, North Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Maharastra, Delhi and North India, North East India and West Bengal, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh regional plans were worked out to counter Trafficking-in-Persons.  It was decided that the follow up session will be conducted in the fourth week of May, 2010 to review the work done and to form a Network of the women religious of South Asia, to work in collaboration with those involved in the Cause.

Networking –Living in Hope

The follow up session was held at Kolkota at Dhyan Ashram of the Jesuit Priests,  from  27^th – 30^th May, 2010.    27 women religious who were present at the first phase of the workshop returned with their experience in combating the trafficking.  The resource persons  were Sr.Bernadette Sangma FSA (UISG),  Mr. Stefano Volpicelli (IOM) from Rome and Mrs.Shimray Mungreiphy from Caritas India, Delhi. Sr. Estrella Castalone FMA, the new co-ordinator of Thalitha Kum was also present and enriched the workshop sharing her own work among these exploited and marginalized groups.  

Sr.Bernadette was the moderator of the sessions and Mr.Stefano guided  the participants on the dynamics of net working.   Mrs.shimay enlightened the participant on the Legal Provisions on Trafficking  provided in the Constitutions of India(Art.23.1,39.e,39.f), and Indian Penal Code. She also highlighted the laws from the ‘Immoral Traffic(Prevention) Act, 1956(ITPA)and also pointed out that the application of various laws need collective and determined efforts.

The participants  shared on  their  involvement in working  against  human trafficking in persons in the light of the action plan made in November, 2009.   It  was very enriching to listen to each other and was a learning process.  Their collaboration with local NGOs and local bodies was greatly  appreciated.

The aim of the second phase of the workshop was to create a  Net work  among  the women religious and to evolve the vision, objectives and plan out strategies to combat trafficking in a realistic manner.

The following vision , objectives and activities of the net work were evolved by the participants. 

Vision

Inspired by the love of Christ who came  to give the fullness of life  to all, we, the women religious of South Asia, commit ourselves to promote and restore human dignity, addressing the issue of  trafficking in Persons, in collaboration and solidarity with equally motivated  organizations.

Based on this vision the participants formulated the objectives. Brainstorming was done to name the new Network.

  AMRAT - Asian Movement  of women Religious  Against Trafficking in persons (Meaning: Water of immortality/life giving water - Sanskrit) was accepted as the name of the Network.

The structure of the network was then discussed.  Central and Regional co-ordinators were elected by the members.

Central Co-ordinating Committee Members(CCC)

Sr Jyoti BS,Goa  and  Sr Benjamin HM, Orissa

Regional Coordinating Committee Members(RCC)

North  Region      - Sr Rajni FMM, Uttar Pradesh

West Region         -Sr Vinaya RGS, Goa

East Region         -Sr Seli SMI, West Bengal

South Region      -Sr V Amrutha SCCG, Andra PradeshSr Cynthia Cardoza SCCG, Karnataka

Sri Lanka          - Sr Nilanthi FMM, Sri Lanka

Bangladesh       - Sr Zita Rema SMMI, Bangladesh

Nepal                - Sr Teresa Madassery SCN, Nepal

 North East  India   and    Pakistan  regional coordinators are yet to be found.    

Central Committee and Regional Committee members will meet and work out the modalities for coordination and working together to share and maximize the resources that the consecrated persons have on behalf of prevention, protection and assistance, awareness raising and integration of the rescued victims into the society.

Religious networks against trafficking  had 19 members until 2009.  These networks  are from the countries of Europe, Africa, South America, North America, South East Asia.  ‘AMRAT’(Asian Movement of Women Religious Against Trafficking in Persons) formed in Kolkata at Dhyanashram  is the 20^th organization to join the religious network.

The Major Superiors of Women Religious of India will be informed about ‘AMRAT’ during their National plenary meeting in Goa to enlist their support and participation in this important mission. It also will ensure the effective  net working among the religious congregations at national and international level.

Conclusion

The participants enthusiastically  assured each other their support and collaboration realizing only networking among ourselves and all who work for this cause alone will bring about the desired change.

There was spontaneous expression of sentiments of gratitude for the services of Sr Bernadette Sangma FMA, Mr Stefano Volpicelli, Sr Estrella Castalone FMA, Ms Shimray Mungreiphy,  Sr Jyoti BS and those who assisted the workshop financially, the Conrad Hilton Sisters’ Fund and Caritas India and the Jesuit Fathers for providing a conducive atmosphere for the workshop.

The meeting was brought to a fitting conclusion with a prayer and entrustment of the mission of AMRAT to Mary’s help and guidance.