You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.

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Call for amnesty for trafficked womenPublished: September 17, 2008The Federal Government should provide an amnesty for victims of trafficking now living illegally in Australia, a coalition of Catholic women religious says.

The Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) coalition says many people from the Asia-Pacific region are brought to Australia to work in the sex industry or in sweatshops or other forms of slave labour, Radio Australia reports.

Good Samaritan Sr Pauline Coll said victims should be treated in a more compassionate manner.

"If its for sexual exploitation many of the women come from the Asian countries, for other labour practices we would have people from the Pacific islands...so it's a broad ranging thing and people are trafficked into Australia or are used here in slave like conditions," she said.

Sr Coll was speaking ahead of a visit to Canberra this week by ACRATH members who will be in Canberra to meet with MPs and social justice advocates.

ACRATH represents 180 religious orders in Australia working to eliminate human trafficking in Australia, the Asia Pacific and internationally, the group said in a media statement.

The two main aims of the week long Canberra trip are to lobby for changes to the visa regulations applied to people who are trafficked and to ensure adequate services are provided once a person has been recognised as trafficked.

Sr Coll, who chairs ACRATH, said the Rudd Government should be applauded for its willingness to work with civil society on this issue. However, she said much more needed to be done to ensure that people trafficked into Australia were treated justly.

ACRATH members will lobby Government on several issues, including allocation of visas to people trafficked into Australia on the basis of their human rights and not on the basis of their willingness to assist with prosecutions.

The group is also calling for an amnesty for people trafficked into Australia who are now living here illegally and is seeking assurances that the Federal Government tender for services for people who have been trafficked is administered to offer a holistic approach to each person's needs.

A comprehensive community education strategy is also needed.

Sr Coll cited a recent Australian High Court decision which has provided a definition of slavery in the 21st century and recognised that what has happened to the women in the case being considered was a crime against humanity.

She has recently returned to Australia from Congress 2008 in Rome with representatives of religious congregations from 30 countries including Australia.

"This congress really made a commitment, and strengthened the determination of women in religious orders around the world, to work together to prevent the trafficking of humans," Sr Pauline said.

"We have come to Canberra as part of this strengthened commitment and we will keep coming and talking to those with influence until a more just system is in place and until this issue is a priority for policy makers," she said.

SOURCE

Calls for amnesty for people trafficked into Australia (Radio Australia, 16/9/08)

Women Religious Seek MPs Support in Fight Against Trafficking of Humans (Media Release, ACRATH, 16/9/08)
ACRATH (Good Shepherd Sisters)
Jonah 1:1-2:1. You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord. Jonah 2:3-5,8. Luke 104:25-37.