The Salvation Army Network Meetings in Athens
by Vera NYGARD
The Chair of the Anti-human trafficking Council Jeroen Hoogteijling opened the meetings by speaking about the impact of the Network: “If even one person has been prevented from becoming trafficked, or even just one victim saved from captivity, it means we are having an impact”. Since the Salvation Army launched a strategy for Anti-human trafficking in 2013, including commissioning National Contact Persons, its transnational work has expanded and grown in strength. TSA is growing its capacity to respond to trafficking situations and there is also more general awareness in TSA regarding trafficking. The Network meeting is an important forum for people from different parts of Europe who are working with trafficking victims and prevention on a daily basis to exchange best practice and provide support to each other. This year different aspects of awareness-raising were discussed, as the Cheap Prices Can Come at a High Cost –campaign has launched in several European countries. The National Contact Persons were invited to share their own experience in raising awareness amongst the general public but also in addressing national and local authorities. It was agreed that even though you might not see the results of these efforts immediately, raising awareness about human traffickingis vital in order to combat it.
People living in the margins of society are at the greatest risk of being trafficked. The Salvation Army serves the most vulnerable in its centres, which is why it’s crucial for its staff to be able to identify both potential victims and traffickers. Ineke van Buren from TSA the Netherlands gave an insightful presentation on hidden victims and traffickers in our centres. There are crucial questions we need to be asking ourselves in order to make our institutions safe: Do potential victims and traffickers meet in our centres? Does our staff know how to deal with possible trafficking situations?
The European Affairs Office was given the opportunity to not only present its work in advocating on an EU level, but also provide an overview of how the Salvation Army’s work on AHT aligns with the SDGs. European Affairs Officer Mike Stannett focused on three specific SDGs (Gender equality, Decent Work & Economic Growth, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and showed how different AHT outreach programmes and service responses are contributing towards these goals. The Salvation Army has a role to play in the achievement of the SDGs and it’s important to highlight that even small local projects can contribute towards the bigger picture.
The AHT Council met briefly to discuss possible future developments of the Network and how to increase support to the work of the NCPs. Increasing bilateral support and putting a greater emphasis on the global framework for TSA work with AHT were amongst the topics discussed, as well implementing more efficient tools for assessing the situation of victims after they have been rescued.
The European Network for Social Services gathered after the AHT meetings on the 15th and 16th of October. One of the main topics discussed was impact measurments and the importance of identifying the concrete results of the social work that TSA is doing. Tony Daniels from the UKI Territory presented the work of the Community Services unit in this regard. Per-Johan Fernström from Sweden & Latvia Territory gave a presentation regarding the Care Chain as it relates to homeless ministry in Sweden. Fernström looked at how to increase the cooperation around social ministries and improve the transitions from shelters longterm. Some of the ideas mentioned were connecting psychiatric and social efforts, as well as providing practical internships for the clients to make transitions easier.
European Affairs officer Mike Stannett presented a vision for the renamed European Affairs Office, but also how to interpret present and future social and community provision as contribution towards SDG’s. Stannett emphasised that the Salvation Army is already contributing to the SDGs through its work, but we need to become better at recognising this. (More information here)
Policy officer Vera Nygard gave an overview of the BuildERS project and how the territories can be involved in supporting it. (more information here)
