NOUVELLES
Red Rahamim, the Mexican network of religious working against trafficking in persons is now established.
For several years Talitha Kum (TK), the worldwide network of religious life against trafficking in persons was in dialogue with the Conference of Religious of Mexico (CIRM), to promote collaboration and networking against trafficking in persons. This resulted in the first training course for religious against trafficking in persons which took place from 18 to 24 September 2016. It was coordinated by Sr. Carmela Gibaja Izquierdo, representative of Talitha Kum in Latin America and coordinator of Red Ramà, Sr. Eurides Alves de Oliveiera, coordinator of the Network Um Grito pela Vida and trainer Stefano Volpicelli. Thirty religious from Mexico and the neighboring countries participated.
Mexico is a country that acts as a bridge between Central and South America with North America. It is deeply wounded by the violence of criminal organizations, who are responsible, among other things, for trafficking in persons.
Mexico is a country of origin, transit and destination for trafficking. Women, men and children are exploited in the lucrative sex trade and forced labor. The main groups of vulnerable people are women, children, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, migrants and LGBT.
In Mexico, in addition to the Mexicans, we find trafficked persons are primarily from Central and South America. However, victims from the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa have also been identified, especially among migrants in transit to the United States.
Like a seed planted in the earth, the course took place in a historical moment. It is the month when Mexico remembers has claims justice for the 43 students disappeared on September 26 two years ago to Iguala in Guerrero state . It is the month marked by the killing of three priests and the election campaign for the President of the United States, whose debates lead the media to question the migration issue and the threat of building new walls.
In this context, the Conference of Religious of Mexico (CIRM), at the conclusion of the course, decided to create “Rahamim” Network, a word that translated means “The Bowels of Mercy”. The network is part of the CIRM and a member of Talitha Kum which now, with this new member, has a total of 19 networks worldwide. All of these are committed to work, in their own country and throughout the world, for the prevention of trafficking, the protection of vulnerable groups, to assist victims and to be advocates and to counter trafficking in people in all its forms.
Faced with the arrogance of violence, religious have responded with the generative power of goodness and mercy, which we celebrate in a special way in this jubilee year. The name of the network "bowels of mercy" is a concrete and courageous response to the criminal violence and insecurity caused by all forms of violation of human rights, which are certainly among the main causes of trafficking in Mexico.
The religious who participated in the creation of the Network Rahamim pledged themselves: to witness the values of mercy, compassion and freedom; to prevent trafficking by deepening their understanding and further training; to care for those most vulnerable to trafficking and to accompany the victims.
The commitment of the network to work against trafficking in persons, reflects the prophetic dimension of the consecrated life that already shares its life and mission with migrants, women sexually exploited, abused children and young people, all in vulnerable situations, in the territories by dominated by criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking and trafficking in persons.