The Kreditá Na Bo project of the Sisters Adorers in Cape Verde carried out awareness-raising activities in several communities on the islands of São Vicente, Santiago and Sal as part of the National Month of Mobilization Against Human Trafficking.
Prevention is an essential tool in the fight against human trafficking. Guided by this conviction, the Sisters Adorers develop initiatives focused on awareness, accompaniment and networking to protect people’s dignity and help build safer communities committed to preventing every form of exploitation.
In Cape Verde, this commitment takes shape through the Kreditá Na Bo project, which works to prevent prostitution, human trafficking and other forms of exploitation and violence against women by promoting community awareness, accompaniment and opportunities that foster women’s autonomy and the full exercise of their rights.
As part of the National Month of Mobilization Against Human Trafficking, the project intensified its prevention activities throughout July in different communities across the country, in collaboration with the National Observatory on Human Trafficking of Cape Verde (ONTP) and with the support of Spanish Cooperation.
Raising awareness to prevent trafficking
Throughout the month, a range of initiatives were organised to provide communities with information about the risks associated with human trafficking and the importance of prevention.
In the community of Rincão, on the island of Santiago, the Kreditá Na Bo team carried out a door-to-door awareness campaign together with Casa da Sopa de Santa Catarina, sharing information with families and encouraging dialogue on this issue. Meetings were also organised with project participants to create spaces for reflection and discussion.
Activities continued in the communities of Ribeira Bote, Espia and Aldeia Rosário,(São Vicente) where information sessions helped strengthen public awareness of this crime. In addition, a film forum was organised with project participants to encourage collective reflection.
The campaign also reached the island of Sal, where an awareness activity was held in the community of África 70, in Espargos, reinforcing the message that informed communities are better prepared to identify situations of risk and help prevent them.
Adapting activities to continue reaching communities
As part of the campaign, an awareness march through the streets of Assomada(Santiago) had been planned for 17 July, inviting the entire community to demonstrate its commitment against human trafficking.
Adverse weather conditions prevented the march from taking place. Instead, the activity became an awareness session at Our Lady of Fátima Parish, where participants received information about the reality of human trafficking and the importance of prevention and reporting.
A lasting commitment to prevention
Although these activities took place during the National Month of Mobilization Against Human Trafficking, the work of Kreditá Na Bo extends far beyond this campaign. Throughout the year, the project continues to promote prevention and awareness activities in communities, schools, parishes and other social spaces, convinced that information and community involvement are essential to reducing vulnerability to this crime.
This work is part of the Adorer Family’s commitment to defending the dignity of women and combating human trafficking. Through a comprehensive response that combines prevention, accompaniment and networking, we continue to promote initiatives that help build a society that is more aware, supportive and free from every form of exploitation.
On 30 July, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we renew our commitment to continue working alongside women who have experienced exploitation and with communities, convinced that prevention, awareness and accompaniment are essential to building a world where no person is ever treated as a commodity.
