Talitha Kum (or the International Network of Consecrated Life Against Trafficking in Persons) is an organization of Catholic nuns established by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in 2009.[1] The group works to end human-trafficking and is based in Rome.[2] The name comes from the expression found in the Gospel of Mark and is Aramaic, meaning, "Maiden, I say to you, arise."[3] The organization is considered a Catholic charity,[4] and operates as a network with many different groups.[5][6] The former coordinator of Talitha Kum is Sister Estrella Castalone,[7][8] and Sister Gabriella Bottani is the current head of the organization.[9][8]John Studzinski chairs the group.[10]
History
The International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) started developing a program between 2004 and 2008, which created regional networks against trafficking in nine countries around the world.[8] The idea to create a group which became Talitha Kum started in 2007 when Catholic women leaders discovered that rates of human trafficking were increasing.[11] Talitha Kum was formally created in 2009 and brought the network of individual groups together.[2] In 2013, Talitha Kum had counter-trafficking missions in 75 countries and involved over 600 nuns.[1] By 2015, there were about 1,100 women working in 80 countries.[12]
Sister Gabriella Bottani became the new coordinator of Talitha Kum in January 2015.[2]
Activity
Talitha Kum uses the Palermo Protocol of 2000 "for the protection, prevention and prosecution" of people being trafficked.[1] Shelters, safe houses, counseling and legal assistance are available to victims through Talitha Kum.[1] Members of Talitha Kum train local people to be aware of signs of human trafficking.[13]
The sisters involved in Talitha Kum have been reported to disguise themselves as prostitutes in order to infiltrate brothels and rescue women.[12] During the BrazilianWorld Cup in 2014, the group organized a campaign called "Play for Life, Report Trafficking," which was meant to raise awareness of human trafficking and how to report possible incidents.[14]
Other services include training women in vocational skills and providing "assistance for micro-industries."[1]