Talitha Kum: Women religious with the Indian Constitution against trafficking
170 Catholic women religious representing 80 member congregations of Amrat - which is part of Talitha Kum, the network that internationally combats human trafficking - at their annual meeting pledged to put into practice in their daily work the right to no longer be slaves.
Barasat (AsiaNews) - The thirteenth annual meeting of the general body of Amrat (Asian Movement of Women Religious Against Human Trafficking) Talitha Kum India - the movement of religious women against human trafficking - was held from 24 to 26 November in the center pastoral and development Prajnaloy in Barasat, in the federal state of West Bengal.
170 religious sisters from India from 80 congregations, who work tirelessly against human trafficking, met and shared their latest initiatives and projects in this area, as well as the new challenges faced in the fight against human trafficking .
The closing day of the working session - November 26th - is the national Construction Day in India: thus the participants committed themselves to carrying forward in the eradication of the scourge of human trafficking, the values of the Indian Constitution, which on paper provides for the full expression of fundamental rights, including being free and not slaves, as well as freedoms of religion and speech.
The meeting began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist officiated by Bishop Shyamal Boss of the diocese of Bariupur who in his inaugural speech reiterated the importance of working against human trafficking and expressed great appreciation for the religious women for their their tireless and courageous work in this field and their contribution in the Church to strengthen its presence in the fight against trafficking in India.
Also taking part in the national gathering was PM Nair, a renowned former IPS officer - Indian Police Service, the Indian police force - now retired who shared his personal interventions in the rescue of children and women victims of trafficking and the his attitude of Christian compassion towards the survivors of this crime against humanity: "We must work not only on combating the phenomenon, but also on preventing human slavery."
He then added that his motto during his work in law enforcement has always been: "No child is for sale, no woman is for sale, no human being is for sale, and we will all work to end human trafficking ” He is the one who introduced the anti-human trafficking unit in the police in India and this is one of his greatest achievements in this field.
Fr. Issac Rumao SJ of the province of Gujrat, director of the Society of Social Services of St. abroad: “To resist, reduce and stop organized crime, we must be well organized through the international network of sisters active in this field”.
Instead, Sr. Jyoti Pinto BS, founding president of Amrat Talitha Kum India, who coordinated the program of the gathering and underlined "the importance of working in solidarity with a heart full of passion for Christ and compassion for humanity".
For her part, Sr. Meera Mathew RGS, the current president of the association, clarified the that the nuns who work with victims of trafficking have "power to heal, power to empower and power to restore".
“Those of us involved in the prevention, rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation of victims have a great responsibility towards these people and their future as free women, men and children,” she concluded.
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28/02/2022 16:10
