Giving catechists the means to collaborate against human trafficking

Sr Oluwakemi Akinleye fsp

Prophetic voices against human trafficking

The great works of many nuns in various parts of the world, with many collaborators, in the fight against human trafficking continue to be admirable and appreciated. Their bold and astonishing skills in organizing and carrying out several anti-trafficking activities, ranging from raising awareness to training anti-trafficking ambassadors and empowering minors and women, are remarkable and deserve to be imitated.

The sisters give their all to this noble and courageous task of eradicating human trafficking because they are convinced that it is evil and that no one should suffer its horrors and trauma. They work primarily in teams and take great risks to rescue survivors and expose perpetrators of abuse and trafficking. They too are often at risk of being attacked, contradicted and assaulted. Yet they advance as courageous foot soldiers, determined to save lives and promote true freedom for their brothers and sisters.

All efforts count to end human trafficking

Catechists in many African Catholic parishes are men and women who devote their time, energy and resources, in collaboration with priests, to building the local parish community in its journey of faith. They prepare candidates for the sacraments, lead prayer services without a priest, and actively participate in small Christian communities. Regarding community leaders, the Daughters of Saint Paul in West Africa (Nigeria and Ghana) are engaged in training catechists as collaborators in the fight against human trafficking.

The sisters typically organize with the local bishop and chaplain for a diocese's catechists and provide feedback on abuse and trafficking during the annual catechist training program.

Sister Joséphine Idowu, superior delegate of the Daughters of Saint Paul in West Africa, declares: “Today, it is everyone's responsibility to join the fight against human trafficking and our sisters cannot may be exempted. They willingly carry out this task, even in difficult and demanding places. » The Daughters of Saint Paul have led more than a thousand catechists in different dioceses in the north and south of Nigeria.

Working together to eradicate this scourge

One of the many reasons human trafficking continues to thrive in Africa is the reality of poverty on the continent. The poor and the less educated are often the first targets, although some young people from wealthy backgrounds are also victims. The question we ask ourselves is this: should the poor in Africa continue to be victims because they are poor? Much is already being done by various groups to combat trafficking, but how can we accelerate the education and empowerment of our populations to prevent them from continually being trafficked? Today the victims may be people living in the neighboring building or village, and tomorrow they may be your relatives or loved ones. Therefore, all forces must be mobilized to rid society of the scourge of human trafficking. As Sister Mary Baron OLA, president of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), declares, “support to fight together against this scourge is always necessary from all those involved, of whatever belief, from regardless of their gender.