In Australia there are four member Congregations of UNANIMA International that are actively involved in ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) –Brigidine Sisters, Marist Sisters, Sisters of Charity and Sisters of Our Lady of Sion.
At the recent ACRATH National Conference held in Sydney in February all four Congregations were represented. The ACRATH National Conference is an opportunity for members from across the country to come together to experience solidarity and to plan for the coming year. The theme of the 2020 Conference was Ending Human Trafficking – Here and Beyond. The Conference began with the then president of ACRATH, Sr Noelene Simmons sm, delivering the ACRATH Annual Report.
The importance of collaboration was reflected on during the conference with presentations delivered by The Australian Federal Police, ANZRATH (Aotearoa-New Zealand Religious Against Trafficking in Humans), Flinders University and ACRATH members who had attended the 10thAnniversary Assembly of Talitha Kum (International Network of Consecrated Life Against Human Trafficking) in Rome in September 2019. ACRATH members engaged in forced marriage and forced labour projects and awareness raising activities across the country shared their learnings.
A session of the conference that was especially appreciated by those attending was entitled Nurturing the Spirit. This time of theological reflection was an opportunity for members to reflect on how they are nurtured as they endeavour to be instruments bringing God’s life and freedom to others.
The ACRATH AGM took place during the conference. At the AGM the National Committee to steer ACRATH’s work for 2020-2022 was elected with Sr Louise Cleary csb being elected as President.
Noelene Simmons, SM
Photo L-R: Srs Paticia Fox nsd, Louise Cleary cb, Noelene Simmons sm, Claire Giffin csb, Jan O’Neill csb (Absent: Sr Maree Marsh csb, Sr Suzette Clarke rsc)
