Indonesian Church to renew fight against modern slavery with nuns on the frontline
A seminar was held in East Jakarta on implementing standard operational practices (SOP) in reception centres. The event saw the participation of 35 nuns from different religious communities, as well as some priests and experienced educators. For Sister Kristina Fransiska, "Goodwill is not enough to carry out this humanitarian mission."
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – For years, the Commission for Justice, Peace and Pastoral Care of Migrants (KKP-PMP) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI) has coordinated humanitarian agencies and Church organisations to deal with problems such as migration and human trafficking.
The KKP-PMP has also undertaken various initiatives to raise awareness among religious institutions. The latest took place last week in East Jakarta, organised together with the Commission against trafficking in women (CWTC) and the Union of Nuns of All Indonesia (IBSI).
Fr Eko Aldianto, executive secretary of the Commission, told AsiaNews that the KKP-PMP’s priority is "to get the Catholic Church to implement a national campaign to end modern slavery."
"We need to educate migrants before they leave to pursue their luck in other countries," said the Carmelite clergyman; for example, through programmes to promote "friendly gestures" towards immigrants like those in Ruteng and Ende, on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara province.
Some 35 nuns from different religious communities attended the East Jakarta seminar, as did some priests and experienced educators.
The workshop’s main topic was the implementation of standard operational practices (SOP) in reception centres in which the IBSI has long performed its service for the victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
"During the three days of work, we were briefed by our partners – such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) – on the minimum requirements to make the centres a 'safe place' for those who suffered from these practices,” said Sister Kristina Fransiska, a Passionist nun originally from Malang (East Java).
For her, "Goodwill is not enough to carry out this humanitarian mission.”
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