Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans is seeking to ensure its future by launching an appeal to keep the organisation operating beyond 2023.

ACRATH is appealing to the community to donate money to the organisation as a Christmas gift this year. Without a major funding boost some of ACRATH’s critical programs will need to be wound up at the end of 2023.

ACRATH national executive director Christine Carolan said that as Australians are expected to spend about $24 billion on Christmas this year, ACRATH is hoping some of that will be donated to the organisation.

Ms Carolan said the demand for ACRATH’s services had increased and it was now costing more to deliver programs each year. ACRATH programs receive no government funding.

“The needs of the community to respond to human trafficking and modern slavery are sadly greater than ever. We must do this work and we need people to work with us by donating to keep our programs going,” Ms Carolan said.

Financial resources this year have been spent on many important programs and projects to prevent human trafficking, including:

Another year of advocacy with Members of Parliament, one result being the success in one of ACRATH’s key advocacy issues. On Budget night we saw in the Attorney General’s budget plan the setting up of a new unit within the Attorney-General’s Department to establish an Anti-Slavery Commissioner to work with business, civil society and state and territory governments to support compliance with Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 and address modern slavery in supply chains. (see newsletter story)

Supporting 36 trafficked women and their 45 children within our Companionship program. We are now also training three new Companions.
A planned launch on November 25th of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign, which runs until 10th December. It focuses on the needs of victims and survivors of human trafficking with calls to action and a range of free resources to download. (see newsletter story)
Eight online training sessions for healthcare workers across Australia and Timor Leste to raise awareness of human trafficking and what healthcare workers can do to identify and safely refer to the relevant authorities. We have been told that one person ACRATH trained just recognised a trafficked woman in her Emergency Department and was able to safely refer her on for help.
Launch of our new website which provides free information, statistics and reporting and referral pathways on modern slavery, forced labour and forced marriage.

The special appeal coincides with the planned launch of United Nations’ “16 days of activism” against gender-based violence campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10. This campaign focuses on the needs of victims and survivors of human trafficking with calls to action and a range of free ACRATH resources to download.

To learn more about the appeal and to find resources for the ‘16 days of activism’ campaign, visit the ACRATH website.