By Charles Igwe
Rev Sr Seli Thomas, a member of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate in Krishnagar, West Bengal, is rallying an estimated 100,000 religious sisters across India to unite in the fight against human trafficking. Recognized globally for her anti-trafficking efforts, Sr Seli emphasized the potential impact of collective action, stating, “If we all could work together under Amrat for the anti-trafficking through our own ministry, we could save many lives from being trafficked.”
Sr Seli made this call during a Nov. 24-26 meeting of Amrat Talitha Kum India, a network of religious sisters dedicated to anti-trafficking efforts. Amrat, an acronym for Asian Movement of Women Religious Against Human Trafficking, was founded in 2009 and is part of the global Talitha Kum alliance sponsored by the International Unions of Superiors General (UISG).
During the gathering, Sr Seli highlighted the significant number of religious sisters in India, estimated to be over 100,000, making it a formidable force against human trafficking. She stressed the need for collaboration through Amrat to enhance their impact.
Sr Seli recently received the inaugural Sisters Anti-Trafficking Awards (SATA) in London on Oct. 31, recognizing her outstanding contributions. At the Amrat meeting, she received a “Common Good Award” and urged the assembled sisters to spread awareness within their communities, workplaces, and institutions.
Sr Prema Chowallur of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod commended the summit as unique, with enthusiastic participation from 170 nuns representing 80 different congregations. The event aimed to motivate more women religious across India to engage in anti-trafficking efforts and equip them with skills to address ground-level realities.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Walk Free Foundation reported that 27.6 million people were in forced labor in 2021, with 49.6 million people estimated to be in “modern slavery,” combining data for forced labor and forced marriages. In India, the Global Slavery Index estimates that 8 million people, including children and teenagers, live in forms of modern slavery, highlighting the urgency of Sr Seli’s call to action.
