OTIP staff attended the release of the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report yesterday, where eight heroes were honored for devoting their lives to the fight against human trafficking. The Report highlights the courageous work of NGO workers, civil society leaders, justice leaders, and concerned citizens from Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Hungary, Italy, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.
One of the heroes, Sister Bottani, represents a global network called Talitha Kum. With 50 national and regional networks led by women of faith, Talitha Kum is active on every continent and in more than 70 countries. The organization is an on-the-ground network whose members are involved in raising awareness, preventing human trafficking, and protecting survivors. Sister Bottani provided remarks on behalf of the heroes :
"All of us being honored today hope that every person and institution which is committed to combat trafficking in persons would address the causes and vulnerabilities that contribute to human trafficking. There are many, but I would love to quote three: an equal power structure in our societies, especially regarding women, children, and indigenous people, in terms of their rights and access to services; inadequate migration policies that leave people vulnerable in an increasingly interconnected world; and economic models that exploits human and environmental resources for the profit of a few in contrast with the exploitation of the many."
Thank you, Sister Bottani and the rest of the 2019 TIP Report Heroes!