Against Human Trafficking |
"How can you put a price on her life? Sadly, someone has."
LCWR passed its first resolution against human trafficking in 2001, and stayed focused on alliances and actions that cause change. The need is huge, to save 100,000 child-victims in the sex trade, hundreds of thousands of trafficked women, children, and men. Trafficking happens in all 50 USA states.
But there are footholds. President Trump on 4/12/2018 signed bipartisan legislation that paves the way for victims of sex trafficking to hold websites accountable for knowingly facilitating sex trafficking. Bill sponsors said that the legislation and a recent indictment had effects even before the president’s signature: “We’ve already interrupted 87% of the global ad volume. Thirty-plus websites and online platforms have either shut down or had major policy changes.”
But there are footholds. President Trump on 4/12/2018 signed bipartisan legislation that paves the way for victims of sex trafficking to hold websites accountable for knowingly facilitating sex trafficking. Bill sponsors said that the legislation and a recent indictment had effects even before the president’s signature: “We’ve already interrupted 87% of the global ad volume. Thirty-plus websites and online platforms have either shut down or had major policy changes.”
Learn and act:
St. Josephine Bakhita
- Current issues and opportunities to act now - Great monthly digest from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
- Find out about slave-free goods and services, news, FAQs, excellent learning programs for use yourself or in schools, actions you can take, sign-ups for alerts, at US Catholic Sisters against Human Trafficking.
- Learn how to identify human trafficking victims and how to provide assistance at the US bishops’ anti-trafficking website.
- Must-see videos: From the Franciscans Sisters of Perpetual Adoration – compelling, calm interviews (15-25 minutes each) introduce the world to “The Faces of Human Trafficking” – the stories of survivors of sex trafficking, sellers (pimps), and buyers (Johns). “Our goal was to create an online resource to educate human trafficking support workers, the general public and give voice to the survivors,” said Sister Corrina Thomas. Plenty more strong videos, too.
- Be a conscientious and informed consumer.
- Discover your slavery footprint.
- Ask who made your clothes (plus more info on brands)..
- Check out the Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.
- Interfaith Toolkit on Human Trafficking -- lots of valuable resources and links.
- Anti-Human Trafficking Parish Toolkit from the LCWR sisters of Wisconsin.
- Use excellent info/action resources from the Vatican to work against trafficking.
- Get talking points, social media samples, community engagement ideas, more, in the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Slavery and Human-Trafficking Prevention Toolkit.
- Learn about St. Josephine Bakhita (1869-1947), sold into slavery at age 7, tortured, yet still able to see hope, even before her liberation and entrance into religious life.
- For many ways to get involved, in direct service or behind-the-scenes roles, in this or other areas: Call your local Catholic Charities. There’s a very good chance you’ll meet sisters there, too.
More ways to do something for justice and peace
Spiritual leadership - Dialogue that transforms - Eco-Justice - Immigration - Racial justice - Nonviolence
