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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000175 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (CERVETTI); G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN PGOV SMIG OPRC ELAB KOCI
SUBJECT: NUNS UNITE TO CREATE ANTI-TRAFFICKING NETWORK 
 
 
VATICAN 00000175  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Summary.  More than 30 nuns from 26 countries came together 
in Rome for a week-long Training Seminar organized by the U.S. 
Embassy to the Holy See that culminated in the creation of the 
first-ever international religious network to combat trafficking 
in persons.  The network - "International Network of Religious 
Against Trafficking in Persons" (INRATIP)- issued its first 
Public Statement at a session attended by key Vatican 
representatives, members of the Holy See Diplomatic Corps, 
faith-based organizations and the Vatican media corps.  The 
Public Session also highlighted a letter from President George 
¶W. Bush to the participants "helping to fight this great evil by 
harnessing the energy and resources of individuals guided by 
faith and dedicated to the cause of justice."  A compilation of 
the Seminar proceedings is set to be published in January 2008. 
End summary. 
 
¶2. More than 30 nuns from 26 nations came together in Rome from 
October 15-20, to create the first-ever international, 
inter-congregational religious network to combat trafficking in 
persons.  (Info addressee posts are those from countries which 
sent participants to the seminar.)  The nuns gathered at an 
anti-trafficking Training Seminar sponsored by the U.S. 
Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking 
in Persons (G/TIP), and organized by the U.S. Embassy to the 
Holy See and the Italian Union of Major Superiors (USMI). 
Brought together by the training seminar, the nuns left united 
in their determination to fight trafficking through the creation 
of their new network INRATIP. 
 
¶3.  The training seminar was a unique gathering of nuns facing 
the challenge of human trafficking in countries of origin, 
transit, and destination.  Gathered together for the first time, 
the nuns developed and strengthened networking mechanisms as 
well as their own communications skills.  Every participant gave 
a first-hand TIP assessment of her local situation in the form 
of an individual country report.  These reports allowed 
participants to share contacts, problems, solutions, and best 
practices. 
 
¶4.  The training seminar also provided the nuns with valuable 
information on how to communicate effectively and disseminate 
valuable information across a global network.  The nuns 
discussed use of the latest internet technology and 
communications mediums. INRATIP will now use these resources to 
strengthen national and international capacities to tackle TIP 
through multi-disciplinary, political, and strategic approaches. 
 
¶5.  President Bush's letter to the participants stated, "Those 
gathered for this seminar are helping to fight this great evil 
by harnessing the energy and resources of individuals guided by 
faith and dedicated to the cause of justice. I also applaud 
those who helped organize this seminar for your commitment to 
the awareness and prevention of human exploitation. Your efforts 
reflect the very best of the human spirit and help build a world 
where every life is respected." 
 
¶6.  President Bush's words were echoed on the final day of the 
training seminar, which had a public session featuring a number 
of prominent speakers including Monsignor Pietro Parolin, 
Vatican Undersecretary of State.  Monsignor Parolin applauded 
Embassy Vatican's efforts in the fight against this modern-day 
slavery. Father Pietro Trabucco of the Union of Superiors 
General (USG) expressed his hope that male religious would 
become more involved addressing the "demand" side of the issue 
through pastoral work with clients. Sister Victoria Toya, 
 
VATICAN 00000175  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Secretary General of the International Union of Superiors 
 
SIPDIS 
General (UISG) and Sr. Bernadette Sangma, the Union's delegate 
for trafficking issues, spoke about their efforts to train women 
religious on practical ways to engage in the fight against 
trafficking. Also present was Ms. Marcella Lucidi, 
Undersecretary of the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs, who 
expressed her desire to work with the sisters of INRATIP and who 
is currently at the forefront of drafting new national 
legislation to combat human trafficking. 
 
¶7.  Media coverage of the public session was extensive.  The 
Public Session was attended by members of the Vatican media 
corps including Catholic News Service, Vatican Radio (English, 
Italian and French services), ANSA (a leading Italian news 
agency), The Tablet and Inside the Vatican (both influential 
weekly magazines). 
 
¶8. The training seminar ended with the nuns' commitment to work 
together in the fight against trafficking in persons through 
INRATIP.  The network is already actively building its website 
and blogging capabilities, and released its first Public 
Statement on October 19, 2007.  In this statement, the nuns said 
that "Our hope rests in a vision of humanity which honors the 
principle that no woman, child or man is a commodity for sale. 
Relying on the love of God, we ask you to join us in our prayers 
and our actions to eradicate this social and moral evil." 
 
¶9.  Comment.  Embassy Vatican will continue its support of the 
fight against trafficking by editing and producing a compilation 
of the country reports presented during the training seminar. 
This compilation is set to be completed in January 2008 and will 
include remarks from President and Mrs. Bush, Pope Benedict XVI, 
and other distinguished contributors from the Vatican, NGOs, and 
the Department of State. Post expects to distribute this 
publication widely among its contacts in the fight against 
trafficking in persons.  End Comment.SANDROLINI