Romania has suffered the exploitation of a great number of its adolescents and youth in the sex industry. Although this is not the only face in human trafficking, however it is the most degradable and one that hurts the person the most in her dignity as a daughter of God.

We, Carmelite Missionaries, as women consecrated, in our option in favour of justice and of women, cannot elude our commitment against the trafficking of women, of children and girls. It is a worldwide problem that challenges us.

This mission started in 2004, when the problem of treatment of persons in a worldwide and European level was great but hidden. The first step was done by a group of religious women, having taken part in some formation courses on this worldwide phenomenon. Then we kept in touch with congregations of women active in the country, so that we may undertake together a project that will prevent this plague from spreading. Since then, we have sought to collaborate with those who work in favour of the victims. In the midst of the traffickers, organized in networks, the challenge of our presence is preventive in schools, parishes, social organizations, health centres, and in the promotion of spirituality. We can always help prevent human trafficking. It is necessary to have training so as to learn how to detect where and how one can fall into the hands of traffickers. There has been a great migratory current in Romania since the 1990s, especially in the western European countries.

Emigrating is always a legitimate possibility for anyone seeking for better living conditions for herself and her family, but which carries many dangers and risks if it is done in any way. Going to “mafias” to perform the necessary, including false documents, or  being transported without passing by the police checkpoints, or  reaching a foreign country without an “authentic and right” contract in their hands; these practices lead thousands of persons, every year, to fall into the hands of “merchants” who exploit them in inhumane conditions, to which, in time, they are already useless. Then, to many, death awaits them.

Schools or parishes, in many cases, through direct contact with children and youth, are able to know if they wish to go abroad and under what conditions. How important it is to take that chance to inform them in a realistic manner of the indicative dangers of this trafficking of persons!

This is the main task of the group of religious women of Romania, which we call “For the Dignity of Women” (Pro Demnitatea Femeii): to visit the high schools and colleges, the parishes and other groups of youth and interactively pose the problem of the trafficking of persons and its consequences. The contribution of our community to this apostolate is  decisive.

 

Another way of addressing this serious problem is from the HELP AND ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS who have managed to escape this nightmare of exploitation. In our case, we have helped a few girls with their documentation, and have accompanied them in facing the shock of the reality of their country when they return, after a period of recovery with the collaboration of Caritas or with local religious congregations. We are about to launch a place to shelter these girls.  

Sex industry degrades the person the most and hurts her dignity as a daughter of God.

The social impact and the change that we wish take place is done through the conscientization of the civil society, the Church or religious authorities and governments of the countries. It is not immediate evidently, not in the levels that we wanted; unfortunately, there are a lot of economic interests at play because for them to exploit the persons, forcing them to prostitution, to work in the field or construction, to beg in the streets, to steal purses, to forge credit cards, etc, is very profitable. This business generates wealth that is close to those who transport weapons and narcotics, and with minor risks and expenses. Because of this, an important part of our work consists in sensitizing the bosom of the Church- the religious, priests and seminarians, agents of pastoral work, in order to unite with our task. Any well informed youth or adult can be, in his own place and sphere, an “agent of prevention against trafficking of persons.” We, Carmelite Missionaries, cannot elude the commitment against trafficking of women and children. It is a worldwide problem that challenges us.

Raquel Díaz, cm in  Rumanía