Shalom Prize awarded to aid organization Reaching Out Romania

This year's decision is intended to draw attention once again to the fact that human rights violations are not a non-European problem, the working group explained. Persons who become victims of human trafficking in Romania are also sexually exploited, especially in Germany, where prostitution is legal. Matei has been fighting human trafficking and its consequences in her home country since the late 1990s. Since 1999, her organization ‘ROR’ has helped more than 750 victims, built two assistance centers and a farm to provide them with normal living conditions and the possibility of reintegration into society.

"I see the Shalom Prize as a unique opportunity to raise awareness in Germany regarding the terrible reality of child trafficking", explains Matei. Affected children are mostly between 10 and 16 years old, she said. Traffickers often took advantage of poverty to lure girls with the promise of a better life. "The financial support is a significant contribution to ensuring that we can continue to offer protection and a perspective to those affected", says Matei.

In her laudatory speech, Alica Rick, an expert on combating human trafficking and herself a victim, emphasized the perfidious nature of methods used by perpetrators. She underlined that also and especially in Germany as a target country of exploitation, eyes should not be closed to the issue. "Human trafficking works because people have chosen to ignore it", says Rick.

Representing the city of Eichstätt, Deputy Mayor Martina Edl praised Matei's courageous work. She continued to say that it was also essential to keep drawing attention to human rights violations and not to close our eyes to wrongs. The city of Eichstätt traditionally acts as a patron for the Shalom campaign.

In order to address the mentioned wrongs, education on the one hand and its practical application on the other hand were both necessary, emphasized KU Chancellor Eckhard Ulmer. He also highlighted the central importance of social commitment and voluntary work to the University.

Dr. Gerhard Rott, head of the department for the universal church at the Diocese of Eichstätt, also spoke a word of greeting. The diocese is one of the most important donors to the annual Shalom campaign. Many people are not aware of the fact that one of the most important human rights prizes in Germany is awarded in our University city every year. Enhanced visibility for social commitment is of key importance for strengthening human rights work, he emphasized.

The Shalom Prize is one of the highest value human rights prizes in Germany. The surrounding work is purely voluntary. All donations directly benefit the projects without deductions for administrative costs. Donations can still be made until the end of September 2023.

Donation account:
Katholische Hochschulgemeinde
Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Bayern Mitte eG
IBAN: DE 34 7216 0818 0109 6203 20
BIC: GENODEF1INP
Reference: Shalomaktion 2023