BREAK THE CHAINS OF OPPRESION AND THE YOKE OF ...

work. To these belong the pioneer initiative of Caritas in the Czech Republic as
also the publicity efforts of the Diaconal Work of the ECG, which produces TV
spots, placards, postcards and a flyer for the public. Church parishes can order
these materials and see that they are circulated in the congregation. 12
What this involves in the first place is informing and gaining support in people’s
minds for this work. A further goal of this publicity effort is to supplement professional
social work by the voluntary social engagement of members of the congregations.
Publicity work also aims to unlock additional financial resources in
the form of donations for this chronically under-financed target – for the protection
of victims of human trafficking.
We Recommend
EXPLoita Tion
Organising an extended campaign to educate the public about the phenomenon
of human traffic in the context of the commercial sex industry and to inform
about its consequences for the development of children and society as a whole.
On the Czech side seeking ecumenical support for a stronger voice for the
church in the fight against human trafficking in order to awaken the interest of
the media and politics.
Help for the Victims of Human Traffic
Women and children suffering from sexual exploitation need protection, secure
accommodation, a supply of basic necessities and competent accompaniment
when it comes to a court trial of the human traffickers. They need professional
advice in the development of a new perspective for their lives. Not least do they
need support on their return to their homeland, for mostly they cannot stay in
the so-called host country.
Voluntary workers are not enough here. Instead, specialised advisory services are
needed which have correspondingly trained experts and are qualified to take over
the necessary crisis management. This is already being done in many places13 � � � � �
and at the same time further people are being sought for this work.
For the work in the border region it is of very great importance that the problems
are recognised as joint (Czech-German) issues and handled cooperatively.
That also holds for the financial guaranteeing of the work. Alongside donations
and other financial support, that of churches and diaconal agencies in both
countries is needed, above all when it is a matter of winning the understanding
12 Cf. www.stoppt-zwangsprostitution.de; www.diakonie-menschenhandel.de;
www.magdala.cz.
13 Cf. footnote 4.
��������������������������������������������
� � � � ���������������������� �
– IN THE MIDDLE OF EUROPE – 141