30 July- UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

July 30th marks the World Day Against Human Trafficking, established by the United Nations General Assembly. On this occasion, APT/AMRI joins an awareness-raising campaign organised by Talitha Kum, in favor of victims and survivors of trafficking in persons by promoting the Power of Care that counteracts the structural systems of violence and exploitation that underlie trafficking.

The Power of Care was the theme of the last International Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Trafficking in Persons 2022 in which Pope Francis urged us: “Trafficking in persons is violence! The violence suffered by every woman and child is an open wound on the body of Christ, on the body of all humanity, it is a deep wound that also affects each one of us…It is the care of mercy, it is the care of love that changes us in the depths and makes us capable of welcoming others as brothers and sisters. Recognizing the dignity of each person is the first act of care. It is the first act of caring: recognizing dignity! And caring is good for everyone, the giver and the receiver, because it is not a one-way action but generates reciprocity. God cared for Josephine Bakhita, accompanied her in the process of healing the wounds caused by slavery to the point of making her heart, mind and bowels capable of reconciliation, freedom and tenderness.”

”Caring is our strength as religious women and active members of the Talitha Kum network. Inspired in God’s Love and the gift of Jesus, care drives us to persevere and continue to respond to the root causes of trafficking (the power gap between men and women in all sectors; the dominant model of neo-liberal development and unbridled capitalism; unjust and inadequate migration laws and public policies associated with forced migration). A real cure extends to all levels (local, regional, continental, and international).”Sr. Gabriella Bottani, International Coordinator, Talitha Kum.

In the wake of the Power of Care, Talitha Kum proposes for this day, to deepen and celebrate the four verbs of Talitha Kum’s Call to Action:

• To CARE human trafficking and exploitation, and for people at risk;
• to HEAL physical, psychosocial and spiritual wounds;
• to EMPOWER victims and survivors, as well as individuals at risk, by amplifying their voices;
• to RESTORE human dignity by promoting access to justice.

July 30 will also be the day of the launch of Talitha Kum’s online photo exhibition Nuns Healing Hearts, featuring photos by Lisa Kristine. The exhibition, launched by Pope Francis to celebrate 10 years of Talitha Kum in 2019, is a message of hope, portraying good!  The link to the exhibition will be available as soon as possible.

For more: contact info@talithakum.info

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