For some time now, our Diocese has been running different initiatives in the fight against "trafficking in persons" or, as we usually say, "human trafficking": awareness campaigns, a round table, a march at Mbabane and others.
Last year we started giving shape to a "diocesan desk" that will coordinate and give birth to new initiatives. The desk has an office at the back of the bishop's house and is slowly bringing together delegates from all the parishes.
With the help of the government's Human Trafficking Secretariat the team had a training session during last week. It helped us identify areas where we can be of help like: awareness, counselling, being able to refer to the proper structures and identifying potential victims.
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| Nomphumelelo Lukhele Head of Human Trafficking Secretariat |
The training came just before the Conference on "Pastoral Orientations on Human Trafficking" being organised by the Holy See in the coming days. I will be representing our diocese having been invited to attend.
I will be back for the diocesan training session to be held in Manzini on Saturday 13 April. This will be the first training where we will involved all the parishes. Each parish will be sending a delegate who will then become our reference for the future initiatives.
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| Fikile Motsa (Diocesan Trafficking in persons' desk) |
I do believe it is all very Providential as we have just heard that Pope Francis has asked Sr. Eugenia Bonetti MC to write the prayers for Good Friday Stations of the Cross to be held at the Colosseum.
Sr Bonetti MC, is a Consolata Missionary and President of "Slaves No More" (www.slavesnomore.it). Therefore the theme of meditations will be suffering of victims of human trafficking. It would be ideal if we could use them in our parishes too immediately after the coming training.
