Nuns say wars in Ukraine and Gaza are worsening human trafficking

As global conflicts such as the wars in Gaza and Ukraine continue to displace millions of people from their homes, nuns on the front lines of fighting human trafficking warn that the danger is increasing, especially for children.

According to Abby Avelino, Dominican Sister of Maryknoll and international coordinator of the Talitha Kum anti-trafficking network, the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have made the situation worse and led to “an increased risk of abuse at various levels.”

Talitha Kum is one of the best-known nun-led organizations fighting human trafficking. Described as a “network of networks,” it consists of over 6,000 members operating more than 20 networks in over 90 countries.

“Children who are unaccompanied or separated from their families, including those evacuated from child care facilities, are particularly vulnerable,” Avelino said, citing the Global Slavery Index 2023 report, which states that “orphanage trafficking,” defined as the recruitment of children into institutions for profit and exploitation, is increasing in part due to various wars.

Avelino wrote a column on child trafficking for Vatican News, the Vatican’s official news platform, on the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30. This year’s theme is: “Leave no child behind in the fight against human trafficking.”

“Children are at the centre of attention and we all need to protect them and prevent them from becoming victims of human trafficking,” said Avelino, pointing out that women and children are often most at risk of exploitation due to various cultural, social and economic factors and inequalities.

In this context, she referred to the story of an 11-year-old boy from Lebanon named Karim, who works as a carpenter in difficult conditions, using heavy and dangerous tools and machinery. He earns just $0.55 a week and is often beaten and locked in a bathroom for hours.

Karim’s story is not an isolated case, said Avelino, pointing out that similar situations occur especially among people living in extreme poverty.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that approximately 152 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 are currently victims of child labour.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report on human trafficking finds a similar picture: around one in three victims of human trafficking worldwide is a child. Victims are exposed to various forms of violence and exploitation, including forced labour, early and forced marriage, crime, begging, illegal adoptions, and abuse and sexual exploitation, including online.

Traffickers, she said, are using the war to their advantage and are also becoming increasingly tech-savvy. They are using technology and the internet to offer and sell children for sexual exploitation online and to distribute sexually explicit material featuring children.

“In this context, new challenges arise in preventing and combating human trafficking,” said Avelino, calling for stronger strategic cooperation to put an end to these practices.

This cooperation is particularly necessary with law enforcement authorities experienced in combating online trafficking through technology and online monitoring platforms.

“Urgent action is needed to protect the most vulnerable groups – especially children – from exploitation. Child victims of trafficking must also be supported,” she said, stressing the importance of listening to victims.

Quoting Pope Francis’ message for the annual World Day of Prayer against Human Trafficking last February, Avelino said: “It is important to listen to those who suffer.”

“I think of the victims of war and conflict, those affected by climate change, those forced to migrate and those, especially women and children, who are sexually or labor-exploited. May we hear their cry for help and feel challenged by the stories they tell,” she said.

Avelino highlighted Talitha Kum’s diverse efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly online exploitation, saying the organization has organized numerous campaigns, events and awareness programs to prevent human trafficking.

The organization recently launched an online app called “Walking in Dignity” to raise awareness of the signs of human trafficking and encourage behavior change.

According to an online description, the app invites its users to join Talitha Kum and commit to contributing to the social change needed to achieve a world free of human trafficking.

Talitha Kum has also organized various in-person and online events, and members have participated in television and radio programs, as well as street and social media campaigns, raising awareness using the social media hashtags “#EndingHumanTrafficking” and “#LeaveNoChildBehind.”

Avelino stressed the importance of being there for people and reaching out to vulnerable young people through education in order to prevent human trafficking from occurring in the first place.

“Our approach aims to educate and raise awareness about human trafficking among vulnerable young people, especially women and girls, migrants and refugees, and people at risk of trafficking and exploitation,” she said, noting that some 623,700 people were involved in prevention efforts in 2023.

“As we monitor the worrying trends and developments in human trafficking, we seek to mobilize the attention of a broad range of stakeholders,” said Avelino, noting that Talitha Kum’s media channels had earlier this month published testimonies from its May General Assembly, which was themed “Compassion in Action for Transformation.”

Talitha Kum, she said, is committed to promoting systemic change at multiple levels over the next five years, including deepening a holistic and survivor-centered approach and expanding collaboration and networking efforts.

Avelino said a paradigm shift is needed towards legal, social and economic justice for victims and survivors of trafficking, as well as those at risk of falling victim to traffickers and exploiters.

“Many victims and survivors remind us of the need to establish rules and regulations that support the well-being of men and women as individuals and members of their communities. But above all, it is about promoting a culture of dignity and an economy of care,” she said.

The quest for a world free of human trafficking must involve the entire society, including government and church leaders at all levels, as well as people at the grassroots level, Avelino said.

“We must protect the most vulnerable, especially children, from exploitation and support children who are victims of human trafficking,” she said, adding: “We are all called to be ambassadors of hope. Together, our actions have the power to transform lives with compassion and create a world free of human trafficking.”