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AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS AGAINST TRAFFICKING
IN HUMANS (ACRATH) MAKES MARK IN CANBERRA
A group of women religious and social justice networkers has made a compelling case for greater rights for, and protection of, trafficked people during a recent barn-storming visit to Parliament House, Canberra.
During five days in September 2008 the ACRATH members met with 70 people, including politicians, advisors, and Government department workers. The group created a greater understanding among policymakers of trafficking issues and some of the necessary policy changes.
They called on the Government to:
Reform the current visa arrangements to reflect a human rights, rather than a criminal justice framework.
Ensure the provision of services for trafficked people in Australia takes a holistic approach.
Stancea Vichie mss said "Some politicians were still unsure if trafficking was even a problem in Australia. We know it is an issue, not just in the sex industry, but in the rural sector where there is evidence of 'imported' workers being kept in appalling conditions and not paid fair wages. We alerted some politicians about possible trafficking in their areas and they made the commitment to investigate."
Click here for a visual report on the visit
Click here for a full text report on the visit
Some websites that may be of interest:
Good Shepherd Trafficking Resources
Anti Slavery Project
Coalition against Trafficking
Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans
Latest ACRATH News
Project Respect
Anti-Human Trafficking Newsletter
European Network against trafficking in humans
United Nations program against human trafficking
United Nations global initiative to fight human trafficking
On 23 October 2008 the Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus announced $1 million in funding to help four Australian non-government organisations (NGOs) in their efforts to combat people trafficking.
The Anti-Slavery Project, Project Respect, the Scarlet Alliance as well as ACRATH each received $250,000 to provide vital outreach for trafficking victims and conduct education and awareness initiatives on people trafficking. See catholicreligiousaustralia.com:80/en/468
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