Indian nun in Cameroon recognised for anti-trafficking work

Aug 18, 2017

WASHINGTON: An Indian nun working in Cameroon has been honoured by an international agency for her heroic actions to rescue women trafficked from this central African nation.

Sr Vanaja Jasphine of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was recently honoured as one of eight global heroes in the fight against trafficking at the launch of the United States’ annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which grades countries on their efforts to stamp out modern-day slavery.

Sr Jasphine, 39, is the coordinator of the Kumbo Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Last year she brought home 14 trafficking victims, who were being drugged, raped and abused, DNA news site reported.

Jasphine identifies victims by working with activists, community leaders and civil society groups. So far she has identified more than 200 women who have been trafficked from Cameroon.

The US report said Cameroon has met the US minimum standards to end trafficking, by providing services to some victims and sending a delegation to the Middle East to discuss Cameroonian workers’ rights.

The government has tried to crack down on Cameroonians travelling to the Middle East, but traffickers have changed tactics, and are instead flying women via Nigeria, Jasphine said.

The nun wants the government to do more. The work of her organisation and other groups try to help victims become financially independent and provide the counselling and medical help. But that is not enough, the nun warned.

“It is very disheartening,” Jasphine said, showing a series of distressed text messages from one of the women she helped to rescue from Kuwait, who is now struggling financially.

“Much more needs to be done.” -- ucanews.com