“SLAVERY exists today. It’s right here among us and happening under our noses.”
These statements, and many others, present the stark reality of human trafficking in Australia on a new website acrath.org recently launched at Brisbane’s Lourdes Hill College.
The interactive online portal was launched on November 18 by the Queensland branch of the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH).
The launch was another milestone for ACRATH which also received a $250,000 grant from the Federal Government in October.
Among those present at the Lourdes Hill launch were members of religious congregations, politicians from both sides of parliament and representatives from the state and federal police services.
National chair of ACRATH Good Samaritan Sister Pauline Coll, of Brisbane, said the launch marked a major development for the organisation which was formed four years ago.
“The acrath.org website aims to present fundamental facts about the horror that is trafficking,” Sr Coll said.
“This initiative seeks to give a voice to the voiceless victims.
“It is a long-term communications strategy to present these facts in an effective and accessible way.”
The prosecution and impending sentencing of a Gold Coast man who allegedly started a prostitution racket involving at least two Thai women is one example very close to home of the reality of human trafficking in Australia, Sr Coll said.
Former Vatican Radio reporter, Zenit journalist and Church Resources marketing manager Catherine Smibert was part of a young team who helped get the website up and running.
Regarding the recent Federal Government funding of $1 million which ACRATH shared with three other national anti-trafficking agencies, Sr Coll said the organisation was “still considering its brief”.
Anyone wishing to offer support for the work of ACRATH can contact Sr Coll on (07)3395 6872 or at Pauline@brisnet.org.au
