JRS: education is protection against human trafficking

The day is also an opportunity to remember – and pray for – the many victims of modern day slavery - human trafficking - as well as for those who work to combat this “scourge of humanity” as Pope Francis has described the phenomenon.

Faith based organizations across the globe, who are involved in fighting human trafficking and in accompanying and rehabilitating its victims, are inviting all men and women of goodwill to participate in the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.

One such organization is the Jesuit Refugee Service. Amongst its many services geared to assist refugees and advocate for their rights, are the existence of“Safe Havens” in strategic locations which provide physical and emotional protection and safe spaces for those caught in cycles of violence.

That’s because women, adolescent and children refugees are amongst the easiest and most profitable prey for human traffickers, as highlighted by a recent Europol report that says that over 10,000 refugee and migrant children, prime targets for sex work and slavery, have disappeared in Europe.

Jacquelyn Pavilon, International Communications Coordinator at the Jesuit Refugee Service in Rome, tells Linda Bordoni that awareness is the first step in the fight against trafficking:

Listen to the interview:

Pavilon explains that in the fight to prevent refugee children from falling into the hands of human traffickers JRS works with unaccompanied minors both before they have actually left their countries of origin (in their first countries of transit) and also in their secondary countries of transit.

For example – she says – in Ethiopia they may be Eritreans who have fled forced conscription or the threat of it.

“We provide Safe Havens for them, job opportunities and education opportunities that provide a future for them so they don’t feel the need to move on. And to those of them who have decided to make dangerous journeys to Europe, we offer the same opportunities here” she says.

She says JRS has a network  which offers child protection centers, education, advocating for legal rights, family reunification processes, etc.

Pavilon says that at JRS they are convinced that education is one of the best forms of protection against trafficking.

That’s why the organization runs education programmes for refugees across the globe and is participating actively in the current Holy Year of Mercy with its “Mercy in Motion” campaign which aims to hugely increase the number of refugees benefiting from educational projects.

Education – she says – “really creates a safe space for young people to explore their potential, as well as the fact that those who are in school are not as vulnerable to traffickers, to forced marriages, to child labour:  it not only creates opportunities but a physical safe space for them to stay in”.

Regarding this International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, Pavilion says that awareness is really the first step in the fight against trafficking.

She says that until Europol published its shocking report on the fact that 10,000 minors have vanished in Europe, most people had no idea that this many children are missing, and what’s more many have pre-conceived ideas about refugees that do not reflect reality and that impacts on all sorts of things from policy-making to the integration of refugees. 

Pavilon says that awareness is really key because until we all understand what is happening to refugees we can’t take action.
  
     
 

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