February saw Br Michael Newman OH and Elaine Hill (Project Manager of The Medaille Trust) present an excellent, yet nonetheless heartrending, evening, Slavery in 2008, to Cleveland’s Newman Circle.

They sensitively presented the stark, horrific facts that although slavery was abolished in 1807 we still have more than two million people ‘trafficked’ around the world every year. The United Nations estimate that 80% are for sexual purposes and many are totally betrayed; honestly believing they are leaving for a better situation in order to help provide for their families back home.

The Home Office has revealed that in the UK we are known to currently have at least 4,000 ‘trafficked’ women; although in reality this is believed to be 8,000 and maybe even more than 10,000.

It is hoped that the Government’s recent intense initiative, Pentameter Two, will provide more accurate figures when it finally reports its findings. However, it is already known that this practice occurs in every city in the world and that a single woman can be sold on several times; making as much as £100,000 in just six months. This dangerous, vicious business is bigger than Microsoft; as big as the arms industry – however, no-one pays any taxes and they deal in the commodity of people!

(The Medaille Trust), set up in 2006, is a charity founded by Catholic nuns, brothers and priests which aims to help women, young men and children who have been freed from sex-trafficking. They work to empower those enslaved and exploited in the sex industry, enabling them to regain their dignity and self-worth. They do this by providing safe housing and offering opportunities for physical and psychological healing and rehabilitation.

The challenge for all of us, however, is to find out more; to talk at home, at work, in Church and when out socialising. We can lobby our MPs, we can pray and we can raise funds for the Medaille Trust. However, we also need to consider challenging an economic system which widens the gap between rich and poor. We need to work for a culture of non-violence and peace; for war destroys communities and leads to a prevalence of brothels. We also need to deal with the issue of sexism; emphasising that women are not for sale and questioning why some men exploit women in this way. Finally, nearer to home, we need to educate our young; for all of creation is a Sacrament of God.

Lorraine Canning

Treasurer, Cleveland Newman Circle