Indonesian nuns adopt digital technology to end human trafficking

Catholic Nuns who work against the human trafficking of people have decided to use digital technology to prevent the menace and gender-based violence in Indonesia.
 
They are members of Talitha Kum Indonesia which is a network of nuns who work together to respond to and counter human trafficking and modern-day slavery, especially of women and children.
 
Talitha Kum Indonesia is part of the Talitha Kum Federation, an international organization of Catholic nuns established by the International Union of Superiors General in 2009. Based in Rome, it works to end human trafficking. The name derives from the expression found in the Gospel of Mark and is Aramaic, meaning, "Maiden, I say to you, arise." 
 
Talitha Kum Indonesia, Lampung network (Lampung Province, Sumatra Island) on April 9 held a literacy session program on “Digital Literacy Awareness for Prevention of Human Trafficking and Gender-Based Violence.”
 
The one-day event was organized in Bandar Lampung, the capital city of Lampung province and it was attended by 21 participants.  
 
Taking part in the said program were several Franciscan Sisters of Georgious Martyr (FSGM), Sacred Heart Sisters (HK), Charles Borromeo Sisters (CB), Alma Sisters, Sisters of Notre Dame (SND), Compassio Indivisa Sisters (FCh), and some of the laypeople.
 
Human trafficking is driven by the development of information technology, communication, and transformation so that the mode of human trafficking is increasingly sophisticated, the organizers of the seminar said.
 
Talitha Kum of the Lampung network sees that every member needs to update oneself to gain skills, especially using digital tools.
 
The skills of using digital tools are very much needed by every Talitha Kum member so that one can share these skills with the community. The goal is to make the community more aware of the dangers that threaten women and children. 
 
Currently, Talitha Kum's activities in the Lampung network include holding seminars, awareness about human trafficking and gender-based violence, campaigns in public and private schools, and advocacy. It assists support for victims of human trafficking by providing them shelter. 

"This activity and movement are extraordinary," said Yohanes Kriswahyudi, an executive secretary of Talitha Kum Indonesia. "Unfortunately, there is still a lack of awareness among nuns and women congregations in Indonesia that are members of Indonesian Nuns Association (IBSI).” 
 
Kriswahyudi also emphasized that Talitha Kum has helped many victims of human trafficking, and provided prevention methods. 
 
According to him, the victims of human trafficking are usually those with a low level of education, and most of them come from low-income families. The victims want to work abroad and earn stable and higher salaries.
 
Meanwhile, according to Kriswahyudi, the challenges faced by Talitha Kum are the human trafficking mafias and the lack of transparency from the victims.  

Talitha Kum Indonesia was founded in 2008, formerly known as the Counter Women Trafficking Commission (CWTC) which was approved by the Indonesian Nuns Association (IBSI). 
 
On August 27, 2019, CWTC-IBSI changed its name to Talitha Kum Indonesia on the advice of Talitha Kum International.
 
One of the reasons for the establishment of Talitha Kum Indonesia (CWCT-IBSI) is to help victims of human trafficking both at home and abroad, considering that victims from Indonesia rank second after the Philippines in Asia.
 
Currently, Talitha Kum Indonesia is present in more than 15 provinces. The members hope to reach more provinces in the country considering that victims of human trafficking are on the rise amid the Covid-19 pandemic.