Fighting Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is one of the gravest violations of human dignity in our world today. Combating this crime is not merely an institutional stance, it is a living commitment, embodied by sisters and lay collaborators working on the ground, building networks, and advocating for the most vulnerable.
In 2014, the General Congregation of the former IBVM adopted this declaration: “As members of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an international and multicultural congregation of women religious, we pledge to work for the eradication of all forms of human trafficking and its causes, particularly among women and children, wherever we live and minister.”
We recognise that we can never tackle this challenge alone. That is why we have formed a network with other key players in the fight against human trafficking.
Talitha Kum is the International Network of Consecrated Life Against Trafficking in Persons, established in 2009 under the UISG (Unione Internazionale delle Superiore Generali — International Union of Superiors General). Active on all five continents, it coordinates over 50 inter-congregational networks supporting victims, survivors, and people at risk of human trafficking.
Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation (RENATE) is a European network of religious sisters, brothers, and laity from over 30 countries, working together against human trafficking and exploitation through advocacy, education, victim support, and collaboration with law enforcement.
Our UN NGO is a key player in the fight against human trafficking and forms of modern slavery. It raises awareness of the issue at an international level and shares successful approaches to preventing human trafficking and providing effective support to victims.
Mary Ward Centre in Canada promotes education as a strategy to raise awareness about the risks of human trafficking and prevent more people from becoming victims of criminal networks at the local, national, and international levels; and seeks new strategies to respond to modern forms of oppression that cause more violations and expose people to a greater risk of becoming victims of human trafficking.
Responding to a direct invitation from the Archbishop of Tirana, Sr. Imelda moved to Albania in 2005 to address a rapidly escalating trafficking crisis. She founded Mary Ward Loreto, providing shelter, trauma-informed care, and economic empowerment to survivors. Her work led her to co-found RENATE — Religious in Europe Networking Against Trafficking and Exploitation.
In recognition of her tireless service, Sr. Imelda received the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2018 and the US State Department’s TIP Hero Award in 2021.
Originally from Romania, a countries most affected by trafficking, Sr. Adina is working with trafficking survivors since 2007. Recently, she has served as Talitha Kum’s Regional Representative for Europe and has drawn attention to emerging threats: the use of social media and dating apps by traffickers to identify and lure victims, particularly in the context of war, displacement, and increasing online vulnerability. She emphasises the irreplaceable role of religious congregations, their reach, trust within communities, and capacity for long-term accompaniment, in the battle against trafficking.
We recognise trafficking as interconnected with systemic poverty, gender inequality, inadequate education access, and discriminatory migration policies.
As Mary Ward women, we aim to further Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in a specific Mary Ward way – that is, in accordance with the charism of the Just Soul and its defining virtues of freedom, justice, sincerity and felicity which speak so powerfully to issues of JPIC and their integral nature in all aspects of mission and ministry.
We are working in different areas and projects – not out of ourselves, but because we allow ourselves to be sent by God. We form our sisters to be mobile and available, willing to go wherever they are sent. We expect them to strive, like Mary Ward, to have that inner freedom to respond to the call to leave all and follow Christ with passion and compassion.
