Catholic Sisters Detail Frontline Fight Against Human Trafficking in Nigeria and Australia

A DevEx panel at a global convening spotlighted two Catholic sisters whose organizations are doing the granular, unglamorous work of sheltering trafficking survivors, training healthcare workers to spot exploitation, and building trust in communities where government agencies often cannot reach. The conversation, moderated by DevEx co-founder Alan Robbins, illustrated how faith-based networks fill persistent gaps in anti-trafficking response — and why their permanence matters more than any single funding cycle.

• Nigerian shelter rehabilitates trafficking survivors through counseling, skills training, and business creation across 27-28 states
• Australian sisters train clinical staff to recognize trafficking and expand capacity-building across Pacific Island nations
• Both organizations stress that permanent community presence and trust outperform transient aid programs
• Conrad N. Hilton Foundation's Catholic Sisters Initiative connects the two networks

Sister Gertrude Elelegoo, a member of the Sisters of St. Louis and leader of the Bakita St. Louis Empowerment Network, described an end-to-end rehabilitation model for trafficking survivors operating across Nigeria. The shelter can house approximately 30 people at a time, and the organization deliberately avoids the word "survivor" in its daily work.