The Australian embassy to the Holy See joined Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) for the launch of its “16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence” campaign, focusing on women migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation.
The launch in Rome on Saturday coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
ACRATH’s executive officer Christine Carolan and Chiara Porro, Australian ambassador to the Holy See, launched ACRATH’s campaign.
“The social justice challenge is global; vulnerable workers are on the move right across the planet. So global solutions must be sought, and global justice-focused alliances must be built and strengthened,” Ms Porro and Ms Carolan said in a joint statement.
Ms Carolan said it was estimated that migrant workers were three times more likely to be in forced labour than non-migrant workers.
Ms Porro said she hoped that through the campaign, the faces of these vulnerable workers will become visible.
“More and more women are leaving their communities and their countries to find work to support themselves and their families. These women are often vulnerable and extremely at risk of exploitation and violence,” Ms Porro said.
“Catholic entities, such as ACRATH, work in source countries to raise awareness and identify needs, as well as in receiving countries to support the migrant workers directly or the communities who host them. There is an urgent need to raise awareness of this issue and to reaffirm our support for the dignity of all human beings.”
ACRATH has developed a calendar of events, resources and stories, to mark days through the campaign, which ends on December 10, Human Rights Day.
Details: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
FULL STORY
