“They are a symbol of hope for all children, women and men who are victims and who suffer shame and trauma.” That is how Sr. Seli Thomas, a Indian member of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, described the Common Good Award conferred on her in London on 31 Oct. 2023 at the first Sisters Anti-Trafficking Awards (SATA), an event celebrating the contributions of Catholic women religious to the battle against human trafficking.
The Sisters Anti-Trafficking Awards were sponsored by Arise, an NGO that fights exploitation around the world; the International Union of Superiors General, which represents some 600,000 women religious from 80 countries and that founded the anti-trafficking network Talitha Kum; and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, established by the well-known hotelier in 1944.
The organization’s awards statement reads: “Women religious are the greatest force against human trafficking in the world. Sisters are often uniquely situated in remote areas that are otherwise out of reach. They are integrated into the communities in which they live and work and enjoy the trust of the people–a critical aspect for working effectively in the sphere of anti-trafficking.”
Sr. Seli Thomas shared this significant moment with Sr. Francoise Jiranonda, a Thailandese member of the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, and Sr. Patricia Ebegbulem, a Nigerian member of the Sisters of St. Louis, both of whom also received recognition awards for the important apostolate they carry out.