NUNS UNITE TO CREATE ANTI-TRAFFICKING NETWORK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000175

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (CERVETTI); G/TIP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN PGOV SMIG OPRC ELAB KOCI
SUBJECT: NUNS UNITE TO CREATE ANTI-TRAFFICKING NETWORK


VATICAN 00000175 001.2 OF 002



1. Summary. More than 30 nuns from 26 countries came together
in Rome for a week-long Training Seminar organized by the U.S.
Embassy to the Holy See that culminated in the creation of the
first-ever international religious network to combat trafficking
in persons. The network - "International Network of Religious
Against Trafficking in Persons" (INRATIP)- issued its first
Public Statement at a session attended by key Vatican
representatives, members of the Holy See Diplomatic Corps,
faith-based organizations and the Vatican media corps. The
Public Session also highlighted a letter from President George

W. Bush to the participants "helping to fight this great evil by
harnessing the energy and resources of individuals guided by
faith and dedicated to the cause of justice." A compilation of
the Seminar proceedings is set to be published in January 2008.
End summary.


2. More than 30 nuns from 26 nations came together in Rome from
October 15-20, to create the first-ever international,
inter-congregational religious network to combat trafficking in
persons. (Info addressee posts are those from countries which
sent participants to the seminar.) The nuns gathered at an
anti-trafficking Training Seminar sponsored by the U.S.
Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking
in Persons (G/TIP),and organized by the U.S. Embassy to the
Holy See and the Italian Union of Major Superiors (USMI).
Brought together by the training seminar, the nuns left united
in their determination to fight trafficking through the creation
of their new network INRATIP.


3. The training seminar was a unique gathering of nuns facing
the challenge of human trafficking in countries of origin,
transit, and destination. Gathered together for the first time,
the nuns developed and strengthened networking mechanisms as
well as their own communications skills. Every participant gave
a first-hand TIP assessment of her local situation in the form
of an individual country report. These reports allowed
participants to share contacts, problems, solutions, and best
practices.


4. The training seminar also provided the nuns with valuable
information on how to communicate effectively and disseminate
valuable information across a global network. The nuns
discussed use of the latest internet technology and
communications mediums. INRATIP will now use these resources to
strengthen national and international capacities to tackle TIP
through multi-disciplinary, political, and strategic approaches.


5. President Bush's letter to the participants stated, "Those
gathered for this seminar are helping to fight this great evil
by harnessing the energy and resources of individuals guided by
faith and dedicated to the cause of justice. I also applaud
those who helped organize this seminar for your commitment to
the awareness and prevention of human exploitation. Your efforts
reflect the very best of the human spirit and help build a world
where every life is respected."


6. President Bush's words were echoed on the final day of the
training seminar, which had a public session featuring a number
of prominent speakers including Monsignor Pietro Parolin,
Vatican Undersecretary of State. Monsignor Parolin applauded
Embassy Vatican's efforts in the fight against this modern-day
slavery. Father Pietro Trabucco of the Union of Superiors
General (USG) expressed his hope that male religious would
become more involved addressing the "demand" side of the issue
through pastoral work with clients. Sister Victoria Toya,

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Secretary General of the International Union of Superiors

SIPDIS
General (UISG) and Sr. Bernadette Sangma, the Union's delegate
for trafficking issues, spoke about their efforts to train women
religious on practical ways to engage in the fight against
trafficking. Also present was Ms. Marcella Lucidi,
Undersecretary of the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs, who
expressed her desire to work with the sisters of INRATIP and who
is currently at the forefront of drafting new national
legislation to combat human trafficking.


7. Media coverage of the public session was extensive. The
Public Session was attended by members of the Vatican media
corps including Catholic News Service, Vatican Radio (English,
Italian and French services),ANSA (a leading Italian news
agency),The Tablet and Inside the Vatican (both influential
weekly magazines).


8. The training seminar ended with the nuns' commitment to work
together in the fight against trafficking in persons through
INRATIP. The network is already actively building its website
and blogging capabilities, and released its first Public
Statement on October 19, 2007. In this statement, the nuns said
that "Our hope rests in a vision of humanity which honors the
principle that no woman, child or man is a commodity for sale.
Relying on the love of God, we ask you to join us in our prayers
and our actions to eradicate this social and moral evil."


9. Comment. Embassy Vatican will continue its support of the
fight against trafficking by editing and producing a compilation
of the country reports presented during the training seminar.
This compilation is set to be completed in January 2008 and will
include remarks from President and Mrs. Bush, Pope Benedict XVI,
and other distinguished contributors from the Vatican, NGOs, and
the Department of State. Post expects to distribute this
publication widely among its contacts in the fight against
trafficking in persons. End Comment.SANDROLINI