25 Feb ACCOMPANYING THE PHENOMENON OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REQUESTS TRAINING/SPAIN
On February 8, the World Day of Reflection and Prayer against Trafficking was celebrated, commemorating the life of Saint Bakhita, this year with the motto “Economy without human trafficking”. Trafficking in human beings is the slavery of our time and, unfortunately, a reality in Europe and in our country. In Red Íncola, of which the Handamids of the SCJ are a member, we are also witnesses to this reality that especially women suffer, encountering situations that pose a challenge, such as their identification or accompaniment within a suitable process with them.
For this reason, since 2020, we are developing the Andreia project, for the prevention and support of victims of trafficking. A project financed with the European AMIF program and in which we are working in a network with the Oblate Sisters through the Albor Center in Valladolid.
During the month of January, we have started the training actions of the Andreia project, developing two different activities: a course aimed at professionals, with the aim of making the reality of trafficking visible and improving the identification of victims; on the other hand, direct intervention with victims of trafficking, through learning Spanish and accompaniment, to help them rebuild their lives.
The course, entitled “Identification and intervention with victims of trafficking” began on January 19 with a duration of 60 hours, in which a total of 140 people from all over the Spanish territory are participating. Among the students there is a group of state security forces, both municipal and national police and the civil guard; social workers of the public administration and also professionals of social entities.
“At first it was designed to be done in person, but with the COVID-19 we decided to change the method and do it online, which has made it possible to triple the number of registered people. We have 4 hours live on Monday and Tuesday, with tutorials and it is completed with work from home with the platform and the forums. We are very happy with the development of the course ».
On January 18, the Spanish literacy and learning course also began with a group of 12 women who are victims or at risk of being victims of trafficking. «It is a very participatory group. We divided into two subgroups by levels, in one of them the majority cannot write or speak, but their response level is high, they are super appreciative, committed, and trying their best in each class ».
During the day of reflection and prayer against trafficking, we joined the different actions that were promoted by the Episcopal Migration Commission, through the Trafficking Section, such as the circle of silence and the prayer vigil, in which it stood out the importance of joining forces in order to combat human trafficking.
RED ÍNCOLA. Valladolid
