Caritas protects people who might be targeted. Caritas Campulung in central Romania has built up small businesses like a cafe where at-risk women can work.
Credits: Secours Catholique
Caritas is boosting awareness and collaboration on human trafficking with a relaunch of the COATNET website which is dedicated to the issue.
COATNET (Christian Organisations Against Trafficking NETwork) is an ecumenical network of organisations working with Christian churches which is coordinated by Caritas Internationalis. COATNET members base their fight against trafficking on shared Christian values and principles.
“The website will offer a platform for information sharing, providing member organisations and the general public with news about the anti-trafficking efforts of the global community, the network’s activities and case studies,” says Olga Zhyvytsya, Project Advisor in Combating Human Trafficking at Caritas Internationalis. “It will also raise awareness about the horrors of trafficking and act as a focal point for organisations wanting to exchange ideas. Moreover, trafficked persons who seek help will find useful contacts on the website.”
COATNET members share a joint commitment to working together to combat human trafficking and to assisting people who are or have been trafficked. COATNET consists of 36 affiliates from Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox organisations and religious congregations.
Apart from awareness raising and exchanging information, the network also focuses its work on improving international cooperation on assistance to trafficked victims and advocating for more State responsibility in implementing anti-trafficking policies. Another focus is helping the survivors of trafficking to ask for justice and to rebuild their lives.
Contact Michelle Hough, Communications Officer, at +39 334 234 4136 or [email protected].