Trafficking in Women: Role of the Church

The Church of North India has been seriously engaged in the anti-trafficking crusade since many of its dioceses are in its sting. Its mission to prevent, protect and rehabilitate the victims requires that organized fellowship like Diocesan Women’s Fellowship for Christian Services is enabled to build its capacity to address the issue. Hence, a national level programme on the theme - Trafficking in Women: Role of the Church was held at the CNI Centre for Human Potential Development, Nagpur from May 29 – 31, 2009. The programme was attended by 60 women from different Dioceses of the Church of North India. The programme with the ‘Inaugural Worship’ led by the President of SWFCS Mrs. Primrose Prabhjot Masih. She welcomed the delegates to the Seminar. In her keynote address, she stressed on the fact, that God has created women to be agents in his great plan for restoration of justice and peace. She cited examples from the Bible of Ruth and Moses who had to move from their place of residence, because God had a purpose in their lives. Therefore, women should be united in and with the Spirit of God to work and overcome problems, and not retreat from the situation they are placed in. They are to be agents to bring joy in the lives of the oppressed. There was reporting by some of the delegates of the work that they had begun in their dioceses after the Lucknow Chapter of ‘Trafficking in Women’. The whole programme included Bible Studies, Sessions, Workshop and Group Works and presentations.

The resource persons brought awareness among the delegates of the Church’s involvement in Anti Trafficking and the leaders of the Churches of South Asia forming a coalition to make Anti Trafficking of humans a priority in the Church’s agenda. Non-Governmental organization like the International Justice Mission network with 31 Churches in Delhi to fight this menace. A slide show presentation of child labour, child marriage, abuse and violence on children and women gave a better understanding of the term ‘trafficking’. Traditionally viewed as welfare issue rather than a rights issue because of lack of conceptual clarity, victimization of women and children is increasing in the process of justice administration, repatriation and social integration. 

The resource persons from the International Justice Mission Mumbai started off with a brief history of IJM, which was started 12 years ago by Mr. Gary Hawkin, an advocate in Washington for the street children in Philippines and which is now operating in ten countries with its headquarter at Washington DC. 90% of the staff is from the local area It works in partnership with churches and local authorities to secure justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violence and abuse and ensure that the existing laws are enforced. They gave provided the statistics of women and children who are exploited for commercial purposes and focused on the four-fold purposes of the IJM that help the victims in rehabilitation and reintegration in society. 

The topics for the programme were 

• Trafficking in Women :Role of the Church

• IJM’s Role in Anti-trafficking Movement

• Conceptual Clarity in Anti-trafficking Movement

The sessions were facilitated by Mr. Sudipta Singh, Director of Programmes CNI, Ms. Sharon Gonsalves and Richard Pinto from IJM Mumbai, Ms.Preeti Patkar from PRERANA-Mumbai and the Bible Studies were led by Rev. Anita Templeton from the Church of North India. This programme helped the women from different dioceses of the Church of North India o draw up an action plan to create awareness programme in each diocese as part of the Prevention Programme