Provincial Convention 2009: Special Presentation on History of Trafficking and WUCWO

Presented by: Barbara Dowding

This is a short overview or history of trafficking, a brief background from the provincial point of view, some good news, Pat will tell of recent action and we’ll close with a meditation.

Trafficking update

In 2004 after a presentation to a CWL meeting by a member of parliament, League members were shocked to find out that Canada was involved in the trafficking of people including children.

What followed from that day, well, as they say, the rest is history!

The first resolution to come forward, called “End trafficking of children” – 2004.05 began its journey from a parish in Kamloops to diocesan, provincial, all the way to national. And it didn’t stop there – it went to WUCWO where it passed at their general assembly and thus received worldwide attention.

This is not the story of a solitary journey. Simultaneously, many other things were going along in the area of trafficking. The CWL was particularly active and our provincial council got involved in a significant way.

2004-06 – When Pat Battensby was president, she made it a point of having education about the issue of human trafficking and gave it priority status. Many of you will recall the workshops and presentations during that time, especially Sisters Pirette Boisse, CND and Nancy Brown.

Members were appalled, horrified and even put off with all the sordid details and graphic imagery that was so hard to take. Some felt it was an issue being forced upon us and, not unlike domestic violence, something many did not want to know about. Is this because it really is too awful? Or that we can’t possibly make it go away? That we are unable to fix it?

We continued to forge ahead, as the resolution made its way up our CWL ladder, travelling along, raising awareness at all levels and gaining attention, striking at the heart of the matter; human trafficking is an offence that violates the dignity of persons, it is human slavery. Defense of the dignity of the human person is a basic principle of Catholic social teaching. Our conviction that God is at the origin of human life radically affirms the equal dignity of all persons. This belief ensures that nothing can justify any servitude of the weak or less fortunate.

On May 28, 2005, we signed the following declaration at our 58th Annual Provincial convention: READ IT

In the fall of 2005, we wrote to the Bishops of BC and the Yukon for the first time asking the bishops to encourage promotion and protection of the human dignity of women and minors through pastoral letters. We asked that they join us and like-minded organizations like the CRC to work toward the eradication of human trafficking.

2006.8 Two years later (2007) when I (Barb Dowding) was president, I wrote a follow up letter offering support and assistance in the drafting of such a letter or plan. After lots of back and forth correspondence a first draft of the pastoral letter emerged.

As you know, Church time is not our time; committees get stalled; Archbishop Roussin retired and was succeeded by Archbishop Miller.

By now you may have heard of or seen the Pastoral letter on Human Trafficking from the Bishops of BC and the Yukon. On your tables is the nearly final draft of the brochure which will be reproduced by the thousands for distribution in the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

We are hoping the other dioceses will consider doing likewise – making it their own and distributing in all parishes. I really want to commend all those bishops who worked so hard to make this happen, particularly Bishop Monroe and Archbishop Miller.

This issue is so complex and almost overwhelming. But much is being done. There are workshops and educational kits available for use in parish councils. The CRC (Canadian Religious Conference) has an amazing workshop for high school students, that is easily adaptable for any group. Take part in local forums and presentations – learn what you can do to recognize trafficked victims and how to lobby government.

If you access the government of Canada website and look up trafficking you will be astounded at what is being done by the various levels of government. When the national CWL council representatives were at the meetings with government officials in Ottawa earlier this year, I was truly impressed by what I learned. In particular, the amount of work being done through the Foreign Affairs Office where we spent a whole hour. There are 17 departments working together on human trafficking. This includes collaboration with the Department of Justice and Public Safety as well as working with the RCMP, Border Services Agency and local governments like the BC Office to Combat Human Trafficking. We were given the ‘hot off the press’ release concerning the partnership between the Department of Public Safety, the RCMP and Crimestoppers to better inform the public about human trafficking through a national awareness campaign.

We were also assured that the 2010 Olympics were a big concern and that since September 2008 there have been ongoing meetings with the RCMP in BC. They want to promote national awareness, train Border Service agents re victim identification and to work with local law enforcement agencies.

While they are trying to do a lot, we must continue to be vigilant and hold the government to account. What is more important is that we have access to these government ministers and policy makers through the CWL where we are respected and our opinions valued. The words ‘open door’ were offered more than once. So there is hope!

To end my part of this presentation, I wish to quote the following:

“Today, the buying and selling of women and children for sexual purposes is one of the most profitable criminal activities in the world… On the internet, child pornography and enticement of children for sexual purposes are the most significant cyber crimes, and distribution of obscene material is the most under prosecuted cyber crime. Tolerance of the sex trade around the world has resulted in increased prostitution, sex tourism and ubiquitous pornography.” (Hughes, Online Course on Sex Trafficking).

Much has been done; there is still more to do.

Pat will give you some ideas of what that might look like.

WUCWO

WUCWO, World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations was founded in 1910 and has a membership of almost 100 organizations active in over 60 countries including all continents and representing missions of Catholic women from every walk of life. All paid up members of the CWL are counted in this number and are represented at that table by our own national President, Danielle McNeil-Hessian.

The mission of WUCWO is to promote the presence, participation and co-responsibility of Catholic women in Church and society in order to fulfill their mission of evangelization and to work for human development. A priority for 2006-2010 is Building a Culture of Peace through the alleviation of poverty.

It has canonical status as a public international association of the faithful and honours the tireless efforts of faithful Catholic women.

In 2001 our beloved Pope John Paul II said of WUCWO: Working together you must seek to provide increasing material and moral support to women in difficulty, victims of poverty and violence. Never forget that this important work is rooted in God’s love and will bear fruit to the extent that your witness reveals his infinite love for every human person…..

At a conference in Rome in 2009, His Holiness Pope Benedict XV! Sent a message to the women’s organizations who were meeting on the theme of Life, Family and Development: the Role of Women in the Promotion of Human Rights which WUCWO co-sponsored with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, saying: “The genius of women to mobilize and organize endows them with the skills and motivation to develop ever-expanding networks for sharing experiences and generating new ideas. The accomplishments of WUCWO are an outstanding example of this, and I encourage their members to persevere in their generous service to society. May the sphere of your influence continue to grow at the regional, national and international levels for the advancement of human rights based on the strong foundation of marriage and family.”

Karen Hurley, President General of WUCWO wrote to say she knows well of the programs and activities of the CWL. She noted that Agnes Bedard, WUCWO North American Regional Vice President was among a five person, five nations study group which travelled to the Holy Land at the end of February to visit sites in preparation for the October 2010 WUCWO assembly which will be held at the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem and will include other pilgrimage options – of which more details will be forthcoming.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful for a great representation from Canada to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of WUCWO?Agnes also prepared the 2009 WUCWO Day of Prayer on behalf of Canada to be used on May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. It is available on-line or I have a copy and it is truly wonderful – as per Agnes.

The WUCWO magazine called Women’s Voice latest edition has just arrived. You can subscribe to this wonderful book or get more information on line.

Karen also reports sadly that the US based endowment campaign has been adversely affected by the economic situation. While several US donors have made substantial gifts, the 100 Years of Faith campaign has not garnered the support experienced in the past from WUCWO members, individuals and religious communities or global support. However, they have not given up, and continue to hope?

Karen sends her thanks to all our CWL members for the witness of faith and the loving influence of CWL Canada.