Book publication of human trafficking stories

RGS published exclusively 120 exemplars and distributed to religious leaders and grassroots activists. Title of the book was “Voices of Silence” and it was written in both Bahasa Indonesia and English. The book narrated life stories of trafficking victims

Advocacy Victims of Trafficking through Bylaw

To respond the need of protection for potential victims and family of trafficked migrants in sender area, RGS initiated an integrated services. In collaboration with Regency Office of Man Power and Social Services, JPIC Ruteng Diocese and Scalabrinian, RGS conducted an initiative meeting to produce village bylaws to protect village people from trafficking agents. Village leaders, parish priests, adat leaders, and village apparatus from two sub district attended the three days meeting in Ruteng.  Total participant of the meeting was 30 people consist of 5 female and 25 male. Upon the meeting that was held in Ruteng on 9 – 11 September 2013, the two villages conducted meeting with village stakeholders through village consultative meeting to pass the village bylaws on protection for villagers from trafficking attempts. Due to the present of trafficking agents, it is challenging to pass the village bylaws. However, the effort of village stakeholders to put attention on trafficking issue was already valuable achievement of the meeting.

In 11 November 2013, Ulu Belang Village passed the bylaws to protect villagers of Ulu Belang to be victim of trafficking. 

Training for church activists and religious to combat human slavery and trafficking in Bogor

Disseminating issue of human trafficking and awakening church activist about the present of trafficking victims in their area were the purpose of the training. In collaboration with JPIC Bogor Diocese, RGS conducted training for church activists and religious in Bogor diocese to combat human slavery and trafficking on 24 November 2013 at SMKK Bogor. RGS invited guest speaker from Police Department, International Organization of Migration (IOM), and Coordinator of Jesuit Conference Asia Pacific -Social Apostolic (JCAP-SA). The result of training was anti-trafficking network in Bogor Diocese. 60 participants consist of 52 female and 8 male attended training.

Socialization of Slavery and Human Trafficking for Teenage

The activity was aimed to bring awareness among teenage about the fact and process of teenage becoming victims of trafficking. The socialization anti-trafficking targeted youth of RGS’s school in Bogor and vulnerable girls of RGS shelter for unwed mothers in Yogyakarta. RGS held the socialization of Anti-trafficking for 124 participants consist of 86 girls and 38 boys in 6 cohorts.

·         22 April 2013, at Shelter Karya Tasih Yogyakarta was attended by 10 girls.

·         20 Agustus 2013, at class XII Jasa Boga 1 was attended by 25 teenage.

·         20 Agustus 2013, at class XII perhotelan 1 was attended by 28 teenage.

·         23 Agustus 2013, at class XII perhotelan 2was attended by 28 teenage.

·         26 Agustus 2013, at class XII jasa Boga 2 was attended by 8 teenage.

·         26 Agustus 2013, at class XII perhotelan 3 was attended by 25 teenage.

During socialization, participants shared information about trafficking among their friends. This process helped them to understand about trafficking and eliminate gendered based stereotype on girls who are trapped in prostitution dens.

TOT Anti-trafficking for Youth Activist

Based on situation we met in Batam, we saw that many of youth were trafficked by their acquaintances. We decided to conduct TOT in Batam. Firstly, We conducted two days training on basic skill of facilitating at Shelter Theresia Batam on 24 – 25 November 2012. Through the training, our staff and youth volunteer learned and practiced to facilitate training. They also got more information about human trafficking. The result of these activities, we prepared 30 people from four parishes to be anti-trafficking peer resource person.

Three TOT programs were done in two meetings

·         4-5 Mei 2013 at Shelter Theresia Batam, 20 youth attended the program on the topic of Spirituality in doing services for trafficking victims.

·         9-11 Agustus 2013 at Bengkong Batam, 15 youth attended the program on the topic of Catholic social teaching and Planning Action for combating trafficking.

After receiving TOT anti-trafficking trainings, the youth created a group to support RGS and Pangkal Pinang diocese to combat trafficking in Batam. They named the group as Komunitas Migran Perduli (KOMILI); in English it is translated as Migrant Care Community. This name is derived from their identity as migrant of Batam.

In December 2013, KOMILI with RGS in Batam conducted first anti-trafficking socialization to 60 students at Rempang Island. 

Activism to combat violence against girls 2013

RGS noted that violence against girls in Indonesia increase in number and form. To combat violence against girls, RGS conducted some activities on the “DAY OF GIRL 2013”. The activities include:

·         Drawing competition

51 children from 5 – 18 years participated in drawing competition on the theme ”Girls’ problems”. RGS invited artist and Jesuit father to judge the result.

The winners of drawing competition were granted scholarship up to US $ 120 in cash.

Through the competition, RGS recognized the way children understanding about violence against girls.

·         Day of girl celebration

RGS conducted day of girl celebration on 14 October 2013 at Santa Maria Fatima Junior School. 295 students participated in the event. RGS divided the event in three activities as follow:

Ø  Group discussion

RGS divided participants into 6 groups and facilitated by trainers.

Students discussed about violence against girls on everyday activities in society, church, and family. They also learned about the root of gendered based injustice and commented on it. Through role play, students showed their understanding about violence against girls and the way to stop it.

Ø  Food sharing

Students shared traditional food they brought from home in class. In this session, student learned about sharing. RGS also introduced students that many people in Indonesia live under severe poverty and mostly girls got less access to food and must work to help their parents for food.

Ø  Children’s declaration

12 students from 6 groups made declaration statement to combat violent against girls in Santa Maria Fatima Junior School. There were three points on their statements include:

★   Respect the rights of all students

★   Acknowledge that girls and boys have equal rights

★   Promise to combat violence against girls and eager to protect girls from any form of violence.

Public Discussion on Single Mother in Yogyakarta 2013

Public discussion was aimed to disseminate issue of single mother among parish priests and church activists in Yogyakarta. RGS in collaboration with local church authority in Yogyakarta conducted the meeting. 125 participants consist of priest, nuns, male activists, and female activists attended the meeting. Combination of sharing experience from single mother and good shepherd sister with research based presentation and theological based perspective on church call toward the poor allowed participants to understand and take action for single mothers in Yogyakarta. In the meeting, RGS gave 250 books on single mother for all participants.