2020 World Day Against Trafficking in Humans

Dear ACRATH Members and Supporters,

As we acknowledge July 30, the UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, I’m reflecting on how far we have come and how far we still have to go to combat modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

It’s 16 years since I gathered with Sr Tania de Jong rgs, Sr Margaret Ng rsj and the late Sr Pauline Coll sgs to discuss human trafficking and the emergence of the problem in Australia and in our region. That first meeting led to the establishment of ACRATH.

From that first day we committed to keep the trafficked person at the heart of all we do. We also knew that we needed to do our work in partnership with others and the community. Over the years you have supported trafficked people by supporting us with donations, advocacy, campaign work and prayer. In partnership with other NGOs, you have helped us achieve the following significant milestones:

  • The passing of a law in 2013 banning Forced Marriage in Australia. In 2019 the Australian Federal Police had 93 active cases of forced marriage, so our work to eradicate forced marriage is far from over.
  • The passing of the Modern Slavery Act in 2018 after a decade of focussed advocacy. Later this year we will see, for the first time, companies with an income in excess of $100 million, report on what they are doing to eradicate slavery from their supply chains.
  • Fair trade tea, coffee and chocolate in most supermarkets and cafes. Fifteen years ago it was very difficult to buy slavery-free products in Australia. But your letter-writing campaigns led to massive changes that have made a huge difference to the lives of people in developing countries.
  • In the past decade our network’s advocacy has led to three positive changes in the visa regime for trafficked persons in Australia.
  • We pushed to ensure that trafficked people have readily accessible Government funded support.  This is now provided by Red Cross and is vital if trafficked people are to rebuild their lives. One example is 200 days of funded support provided to people, usually young women, at risk of, or escaping a forced marriage.

This work has, and will continue to be done in partnership with many other organisations.  None of this work, in fact expanding during the pandemic, could have happened without your support and we thank you.

If you are in a position now to continue to support the critical anti-trafficking work of ACRATH, we are incredibly thankful.  If you cannot offer any financial support during this difficult time, we understand and we ask you to continue to collaborate with us to stop human trafficking and modern slavery.

ACRATH members have prepared a ten-minute Prayer for the World Day Against the Trafficking in Persons on July 30 and we invite you to attend with us on ZOOM.  Please click on the link below to attend.  If you are unable to attend the zoom prayer gathering please use the material on our website or this valuable prayer resource and lead your community in prayer.

Zoom details
Topic: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
Time: Jul 30, 2020 12:00 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83965877041
Meeting ID: 839 6587 7041

Again, we thank you and we ask you to consider donating to ACRATH today, if you are in a position to do so.

Donation Options – we have DGR status

Online: The link is https://www.trybooking.com/au/donate/acrath
Please note there is a forward slash not a dot between com and au.

Cheques: Please make cheques payable to ACRATH Public Fund. Post to ACRATH National Office, 54 Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park, 3206.

Direct Deposit
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
ACRATH Public Fund
BSB 063 111  Account number 10802141
(Please send an email to treasurer@acrath.org.au if you make a donation by direct deposit giving name and contact details so that a receipt can be sent).

Thank you for your unwavering support.

In appreciation,
Sr Louise Cleary csb,
President

Report finds pandemic has increased risk of modern slavery

In its first annual report (July 2020), the Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network has found the risk of modern slavery has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Read more.