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Book Review: I Have a Voice – Trafficked Women – in their own words July 29th, 2016
I Have a Voice – Trafficked Women – in their own words
Sr. Angela Reed, RSM, and Marietta Latonio
Illustrations by Sr. Venus Marie Pegar, SFX
Published by Our Community Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
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Read about book’s author
Book review by: Mary O’Herron
This book tells stories in words and powerful pictures of 22 women involved in human trafficking in Cebu City, Philippines, and is based on a study by Sr. Angela Reed, RSM.
The stories, though usually only a page, are very tough to read: often of young girls pushed or lured into prostitution
In one section of the book called Points to Ponder, some generalities emerge – these are the conditions that create vulnerability to trafficking of those whose stories are told in this book.
Family-of-origin poverty (The author points out that many people in the world are poor, but not all are trafficked, so other factors besides poverty play a part in creating vulnerability. She found that family situations played a very large part. Violence, drugs, alcohol abuse and a sense of low value put on individuals in the family created conditions that led to these girls being abused outside the family or being trafficked.
Isolation – living in rural areas, especially where there were scant educational opportunities, intersecting with some of these other conditions contributed to vulnerability.
Drugs and alcohol abuse — by parents or other close family members played a part in many of the stories.
Absence of mothers and fathers — for a variety of reasons was commonplace in the stories. Grandmothers often became caregivers.
Abuse, including sexual abuse of children by family members or close members of their communities – as well as other physical, emotional, verbal and financial abuses were often present in their lives before being trafficked. The girls in these stories often stayed quiet about abuse because they had no one with whom they could talk about it – no one they could trust. The effects of childhood abuse can play out later in life – depression, guilt, shame, self-blame, eating disorders, anxiety, and denial. It can affect relationships causing them to be unhealthy and harmful.
Educational opportunities were sparse or non-existent for many of these women. Most did not get beyond elementary school. Abuse, especially sexual abuse, can affect ability to learn and understand. Peers offered support at times in these stories but sometimes encouraged the use of drugs and alcohol.
Many in these stories started working as domestic helpers, which are noted for low wages and often abuse.
General Format of the book:
The book is divided into three basic sections and has:
- The story told by one of the women/girls.
- An illustration of her and symbols of her story.
- Reflection questions for the reader.
- A section placing each part into context.
Basic take-away from this book: family of origin plays a huge part in creating vulnerability to trafficking, especially where poverty, isolation, violence, drug, alcohol and other abuses are present.
Our 2016 Summer JPIC Report is Now Available! July 28th, 2016
Our 2016 Summer JPIC Report is now available online! JPIC Report is the twice-yearly newsletter of the US Oblate JPIC Office. It is an informational resource about and for Oblates and others involved in the work of promoting justice, peace and the integrity of creation.
Download a PDF version of the newsletter here.
You can also download past issues of the JPIC Report in the Resources section of the website.
Oblates from Latin America share their faith experience on justice, peace and the integrity of creation July 26th, 2016
By Fr. Miguel Pipolo, OMI
The OMI 1982 Constitutions and Rules made a point to introduce the ministry of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation as a main preoccupation of its members. It is good to remember this as we go through the third year of the Oblate Triennium. This ministry cannot be absent from our missionary activity. I hope that sharing our experience in Latin America will help other Oblates in their desire to serve the poor wherever we are.
The economic and social policies in the long Latin American colonial period in Latin America were meant to keep the poor people under the rule of the governing class. Economic and social tragedies were not lacking. These policies affected in depth the poor and the most abandoned in the region. Unspeakable torture and deaths have occurred everywhere, but especially in the countries of Central America and Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, the so-called “southern cone” of high material wealth. And this happened in a supposedly Catholic continent.
The Oblates working in Latin America shared the lot of the poor; its pastoral work suffered a turn-about of 360 degrees following the II Vatican Council. The Church was with the poor, even if some bishops were not interested in speaking out in their favor. Many bishops were exemplary shepherds, like Bishop Helder Camara of Recife, Brazil. No suffering was lacking.
Read the full article at OMIWORLD.
Compassionate Refugee Legislation Introduced in U.S. Senate July 21st, 2016
On July 14, 2016, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Refugee Protection Act of 2016, which includes provisions to address many of the severe, longstanding problems in the U.S. refugee and asylum systems. The Missionary Oblates JPIC office welcomes the introduction of significant legislation — the Refugee Protection Act of 2016. We strongly support this legislation and believe it is compassionate. We also affirm the principles that the bill will help to restore the United States as a welcoming nation for those suffering persecution around the world. Our hope and prayer is that all Members of Congress join the lead sponsors to support passage of the Refugee Protection Act of 2016.
If passed into law, the legislation’s many significant provisions would require the implementation of humane reforms to the immigration detention system. It would also provide increased support to ensure refugees are fully welcomed and it would require appointed legal counsel for unaccompanied children and other vulnerable migrants in immigration proceedings.
Missionary Oblates JPIC joins in solidarity with diverse faith-based organizations as well as human and immigrant rights organizations in supporting the Refugee Protection Act of 2016. The legislation reflects many values which the faith community supports and will show compassion and a strong commitment to protecting refugees, asylum-seekers, vulnerable children and other migrants arriving in the United States.
Join us in commending the co-sponsors of the Refugee Protection Act of 2016. We will issue a full action alert in the coming weeks.
Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI Speaks at Vatican-Catholic Relief Services Conference on Impact Investing July 15th, 2016
The Second Vatican Conference on Impact Investing took place from June 26-28, 2016. The three-day conference, themed “Making the Year of Mercy a Year of Impact for the Poor,“ was co-hosted by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Catholic Relief Services.
Fr. Seamus Finn, OMI, presented at the conference and gave an interview to Devin Watkins of Vatican Radio.
Visit Vatican Radio to read the full news article and listen to the interview.
