Sr. Marie-Agnes
Suwanna Buasap is a member of the Talitha Kum anti-human trafficking network.
Photo: Sr. Marie-Agnes S. Buasap, SPC
Catholic religious sister receives top anti-human
trafficking award in Thailand
A Thai Catholic religious sister, known for her
groundbreaking grassroots initiatives to combat human trafficking, has received
national recognition for her work with vulnerable communities in Thailand's
remote northern regions.
By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, LiCAS News
Sr. Marie-Agnes Suwanna Buasap of the Sisters of St. Paul de
Chartres was honored by Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human
Security during a ceremony in Bangkok on June 5, marked as National Anti-Human
Trafficking Day.
The award commends her “courageous, creative, and sustained”
efforts in addressing trafficking, particularly among women and children living
in high-risk areas.
The event gathered representatives from faith-based and
secular groups across Thailand working to fight human trafficking.
Among the honorees was Stella Maris, the seafarers’ ministry
of the Chanthaburi Diocese, which collaborates with maritime networks and local
officials to rescue and support trafficked fishers and seafarers.
Sr. Marie-Agnes
Suwanna Buasap receives a national award for her anti-human trafficking work
during a ceremony in Bangkok. Photo courtesy: Sr. Marie-Agnes S. Buasap, SPC
In an interview with LiCAS News, Sr. Marie-Agnes
underlined the need to reach society’s most vulnerable with hope and concrete
action—especially during the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025.
“This Jubilee Year, we are called to be Pilgrims of
Hope—bringing hope to those living on the margins, especially young women at
risk of exploitation,” she said. “To fight trafficking, we must become deeply
integrated in the communities we serve. Building trust is essential.”
Her anti-trafficking approach is rooted in education,
empowerment, and community-based leadership. Her initiatives include:
- Training 3,182 teachers across 35 schools to deliver
anti-trafficking education, reaching more than 60,000 students.
- Supporting youth-led awareness campaigns in northern
border regions.
- Establishing Talitha Kum Kids networks
in schools to build long-term advocacy.
- Launching livelihood programs for women in three
northern villages, including the production of chili-based products to increase
family income.
- Deploying 40 Talitha Kum volunteers
to lead workshops for more than 800 women, focusing on awareness, skills
development, and community resilience.
The Talitha Kum movement—named after Jesus’
words in the Gospel of Mark, “Maiden, I say to you, arise”—is a global network
of women religious fighting human trafficking. Founded in 2009 by the
International Union of Superiors General, the network is active in over 90
countries.
Sr. Marie-Agnes acknowledged the support of her congregation
and the wider Church in sustaining the mission. “This work is never done
alone,” she said. “It’s the fruit of shared commitment, faith, and compassion.”
Her efforts come amid a global slowdown in anti-trafficking
enforcement. The United Nations reported that in 2020, trafficking-related
crime detection fell by 11%, while convictions dropped by 27%—a decline most
visible in developing nations.
Sr. Marie-Agnes’s national award stands as a testament to
the power of faith-driven grassroots action in confronting one of the world’s
most persistent human rights challenges.
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