The Asia Pacific Women of Faith Network has been attending the issue of human trafficking as one of its program objectives. Human trafficking is at its highest in Asia and Oceania regions. An online seminar examining this issue will be held on Thursday, September 29th, 2022. There will be plenary and breakout sessions.
. . . the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs;
In brief, it involves the exploitation of vulnerable persons by coercing them to be held and transported via abduction, fraud, deception, or use of force. They are exploited for the purpose of sex, farm labour, or other forms of slavery.
Religions for Peace Asia (ACRP) is pleased to announce that Asia-Pacific Women of Faith Network (APWoFN) and ACRP will hold an online seminar on anti-Human Trafficking Seminar in Septermber.
Our virtual seminars on Anti-Human Trafficking last year, hosted by APWoFN and ACRP fruitfully succeeded to learn the reality of Human Trafficking in Asia and the women and children of Asia trapped in modern-day slavery.
As for the next step, the seminar will be focused on finding the concreate action on eradicating the issue of trafficking.
Program Highlights:
1. Opening
2. Plenary 1-Religious Perspectives
* ACRP’s proud experts and colleagues from various religious and cultural backgrounds, who have been researching the issue of human trafficking for many years.
3. Plenary 2- State Agencies and Activist Perspective
* Organizations with deep knowledge of human trafficking issues and close relationships with ACRP.
4. Plenary 3- Online Shelter visit (BREAKOUT SESSION)
* Online shelter visits by NGO groups in the Philippines and Indonesia.
* Please select which breakout session you would like to join at your registration.
5. Reflection from youth- ACRP’s youth member will share with us her reflection/feedback about the seminar.
6. Closing
Event Details:
Theme: “Tackling Human-Trafficking in Asia: Challenges and Best Practices”.
Date/Time: Thursday, September 29th, 2022 at 2:00pm-5:00pm (Japan Standard Time)
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlcOmoqzotEtWyEt1vvuw2UZUa6_yX8hoW
(Languages can be switched in the bottom right corner of the registration page if necessary.)
Conclusion
Human trafficking is a vile crime against humanity and against God. It treats a human life as if it were only a commodity.
There is possibly no greater scriptural condemnation of human trafficking than what the Bible says about the human creation. Men and women have been created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). That conveys ultimate value. A person is not to be bought and sold, used and discarded as if he or she is
merely a thing and not an image bearer of God.
God’s human creation is so important that Jesus gave His life to cover their failings and to restore their relationship with the Creator. Each person is valuable to God.
Image Credits: Pixabay / Eduardo Davad