Catholic Nun Honoured for Her Efforts Against Human Trafficking in Thailand

Bangkok, 7 June 2025: Sr. Marie-Agnes Suwanna Buasap, a Thai Catholic nun, was honoured with the “Outstanding Person Award for the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking” by the Government of Thailand on June 5, in recognition of her impactful work in combating human trafficking among marginalised women and children. The award was conferred by Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security during a ceremony held to mark National Anti-Human Trafficking Day.

Sr. Marie-Agnes, a member of the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, serves as the Thailand coordinator of Talitha Kum, an international Catholic network of women religious combating human trafficking in 90 countries. Her efforts in the fight against human trafficking are aimed at promoting the human dignity and rights of vulnerable women and girls, especially those living in high-risk areas in Thailand.

Through a combination of education, leadership development, and economic support, Sr. Marie-Agnes has transformed local communities and empowered hundreds of women. She conducts capacity-building workshops to equip women with essential skills and supports several women's livelihood projects in three northern towns in Thailand. One of these initiatives is a chilli cultivation project, where women grow, harvest, and process chillies into a variety of value-added chilli-based products. These freshly harvested chillies, as well as the products prepared using them, are then sold in various markets, providing them with a stable and sustainable source of income.

Sr. Marie-Agnes also supports 40 Talitha Kum volunteers who conduct seminars for over 800 women, focusing on awareness, skill-building, and resilience.

Since 2018, Sr. Marie-Agnes has focused her mission on empowering the younger generation. She launched “Talitha Kum Kids” in Thailand, training over 3,000 teachers in schools across the country and building up the Talitha Kum Youth Ambassadors, who lead peer-based awareness campaigns. Her projects are present in 35 different institutions to provide anti-trafficking lessons, therefore impacting about 60,000 children.

The Talitha Kum network was founded in 2009 by the International Union of Superiors General and continues to be a global force against human trafficking through education, advocacy, and direct intervention.

Source: Radio Veritas Asia

Image Credit: Photo: Sr. Marie-Agnes S. Buasap, SPC