By Cl. Wilfridus Pita Raja, SDB - Postnovice

       Jakarta, Indonesia, 5 March 2023 -- Human trafficking is an enormous human crime which underestimates and even tears apart the dignity of human beings. In the last several decades, the issue of human trafficking has been growing. There is no doubt that Indonesia is one of the destination countries and the source of victims of human trafficking sent around the world.

       To tackle this widespread crime we have to build a broad network. To conquer them, collaboration with government, academics, religious, society organizations, non-governmental organizations is needed to fight this crime.

       Realizing the increase in cases in Indonesia, Talitha Kum (an International Network of Consecrated People in the Catholic Church against the Human Trafficking) Jakarta invited Catholic Sisters, Brothers, Religious who work in the archdiocese of Jakarta, and also Protestant pastors, to take part in identification, training and developing a Christian approach to the criminal act of human trafficking. This took place over three days, from 21-23 February 2023, at PUSPAS Samadi Klender. The SDB Post-novitiate community in Jakarta sent Cl Wilfridus Pita Raja. He was the youngest among the 40 participants.

       This three-day activity discussed human trafficking. The first day, they had an opening with prayer and singing and continued with explanation of human trafficking. Three kinds of explanations in the first day; human trafficking in general, by IOM of Indonesia, challenges and struggles to fight against human trafficking by Mr Gabriel Goa from Padma Indonesia and Mis Sonya Hellen Sinombor, a journalist of Kompas and skill to handle and support the victims by IOM of Indonesia.

       On the second day, participants (from Catholic and Protestant churches) celebrated Ash Wednesday. The most interesting moment was when the survivors shared their experiences. They were Mrs. Siti Badriah (who worked in Malaysia) and Mr. John Gulton (who worked in China). What they shared opened the mind of the participants. There were also staff from the Ministry for Empowerment of women and children in this activity.

       On the third day, all participants were invited to make some concrete way forward in their environment. And the whole event concluded with ecumenical worship.

       This three-day workshop made a deep impression on all participants. They gained a new understanding, a broader view and a new spirit. Through this three-day activity the participants were invited to engage in concrete action in their environment to be the agents of change and fight against human trafficking.

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