Sister Abby Avelino, MM is International Coordinator of Talitha Kum (UISG).

Originally from the Philippines, Sr. Abby is a Catholic woman religious who belongs to the Maryknoll Sisters of Saint Dominic. Before entering missionary religious life, she worked as a mechanical/systems engineer.

She was initially missioned in Japan as a pastoral worker, where she accompanied many migrants from all over the world, and particularly migrant women from the Philippines.

In Japan, Sister Abby met numerous women who had been deceived and exploited by traffickers. These encounters triggered something in her heart, which moved her to become involved in the anti-trafficking ministry.

Sister Abby became the coordinator of Talitha Kum Japan, which advocates for the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees. She then served as Talitha Kum’s regional coordinator for Asia, with a focus on understanding and responding to the needs of national networks in 16 countries. Currently, she serves as Talitha Kum’s International Coordinator in Rome, a global Sister-led network against human trafficking.

Talitha Kum International headquarters based in Rome, Italy under the umbrella of the International Union Superiors General (UISG). The Sister-led network of networks present in 97 countries with more than 6,000 members of religious men and women, laities, and young people continue to spread its mission to end human trafficking and any forms of slavery.