Slavery at sea: AoS empowers spouses of fishermen and seafarers

Spouses and partners of fishermen and seafarers in the Philippines were given knowledge and the tools to deal with human trafficking and slavery at sea during a three-day training programme held in Manila.

Organised by seafarers' charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) from December 7 to 9, the meeting was aimed at empowering seafarers' wives, AoS staff, volunteers and partners with the skills needed to cope with trafficking of seafarers and fishers.

More than 120 people attended the first national training and networking event of its kind in the country.

Speakers included Fr. Bruno Ciceri, from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in the Vatican, Hilary Chester from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Coalition of Organization and Ministries Promoting the Abolition of Slavery at Sea (COMPASS) and Sr Judith Padasas from Talitha Kum.

His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila also attended the conference where he delivered an inspiring message, where he stressed the importance of working together to tackle human trafficking.

He said we need to be able to understand the complexities surrounding the problem, in order to come together to do something about it.

"If we feel too comfortable, chances are nothing will be done. It is good to be a bit confused facing of the situation. We should be uncomfortable with the discussions in order to feel the suffering of those who are exploited - fishermen and seafarers. The complexity of human trafficking must be painful for us [so] it will bring us to work together," Cardinal Tagle said.

Human trafficking is a growing concern and on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Last July, Pope Francis appealed for an end to it, calling "ugly, cruel, criminal."

In the context of abuses at sea, the situation is often compounded because the victims are often 'invisible', working on board ships and in ports away from the public's eye.

Many of those enslaved on ships live in unsanitary conditions, lacking fresh food and fresh drinking water, working excessive hours and with health problems.

AoS, as an international seafarers' charity, through the work of its port chaplains and ship visitors is able to directly reach millions of fishermen and seafarers.

The training event is a follow up to the 24th AoS World Congress held in Taiwan last October.

Read more about the AOS here: www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk