News Archives » human trafficking
STOP Trafficking During FIFA! June 5th, 2014
In a week, “the biggest single-event sporting competition in the world” will commence: The FIFA World Cup. Half a million people are anticipated to attend the 2014 World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.
Live Your Dream is an online community empowering offline action, helping women and girls to live their dreams. They sponsored a #STOPTrafficking Awareness Week before the Superbowl in January. Along with spectators, large sporting events see an influx of sex trafficking victims.
You can take action to STOP Trafficking during FIFA!
Live Your Dream has created a resource and letter for nearly 200 hotels in the 12 Brazilian host cities to help hotel employees recognize the signs of trafficking and encourage them to contact the authorities if they suspect trafficking.
GOAL: 7,000 signatures in 7 days – SIGN HERE! Over 4,000 people have signed the letter as of this posting.
With the World Cup a week away, the organization is trying to get as many signatures of support as possible. Please sign your name now, and share this action with others so they may help put a stop to this atrocious crime against women and girls.
Resources to Root Out Slavery June 2nd, 2014
Below are two great resources to help us learn about and do something about modern day slavery. Please check them out.
Know The Chain is a resource that can be used to educate people about the existence of slavery in supply chains. It seeks to open dialogue to help companies build supply chains free of forced labor and trafficking. Visit the site: www.knowthechain.org
The Amistad Movement is a national education campaign, sponsored by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, that works through churches, cultural organizations, and other community-based groups to empower immigrants and local leaders to prevent human trafficking in their communities.
Through the training you will learn how to:
- identify human trafficking and exploitation in the domestic, agricultural, service, and sex industries;
- establish partnerships with coalitions and other organizations dedicated to combating human trafficking;
- support survivors of human trafficking;
- become an ethical employer and consumer; and
- educate others about this modern day slavery
For more information or to schedule a free training in your community please email MRSTRAFF@usccb.org or call (202) 541-3021.
Kidnapping in Nigeria a Tragic Reminder that Trafficking and Slavery Persist Worldwide May 16th, 2014
Constant vigilance and the full participation of all stakeholders is required to guard against hidden human rights abuses.
Over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped on April 14th by Boko Haram in Nigeria, setting off a firestorm of concern from around the world. In messages to the Nigerian government the extremists have referred to the girls as slaves and threatened to “sell them on the market”. The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), a shareholder coalition that has been working to highlight human trafficking and modern slavery in corporate supply chains, adds it voice to the many religious, governmental, non-governmental and international institutions calling for the mobilization of all necessary resources and expertise to help locate and free the missing girls. The Oblates are active participants in ICCR and work through the coalition to abolish human trafficking and modern day slavery.
Click here to read more »
Become a SHEPHERD May 8th, 2014
As Catholics we are called to seek ways that each of us can work with our dioceses and communities to combat human trafficking. This can be done through prayer, education, and responsible consumerism.
Visit www.usccb.org/shepherd to learn more about Becoming a SHEPHERD or email MRSShepherd@usccb.org to request the SHEPHERD toolkit guide – now available in both English and Spanish – to help you educate your parish and community about human trafficking.
If you have already used the SHEPHERD toolkit, please fill out this quick survey from the USCCB campaign! They are looking for your feedback!
The Pope and President Obama Discuss Common Commitment to Eradicate Trafficking March 27th, 2014
The Vatican Press Office released a statement regarding Thursday morning’s meeting between Pope Francis and U.S President Barack Obama. The statement notes that the two leaders discussed “current international themes” and expressed the hope that “in areas of conflict there would be respect for humanitarian and international law and a negotiated solution between the parties involved.”
The statement goes on to say that in the context of bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Holy See, the Pope and the President discussed “questions of particular relevance for the Church in that country, such as the exercise of the rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection, as well as the issue of immigration reform.”
Finally the statement notes that Pope Francis and President Obama spoke of a “common commitment to the eradication of human trafficking. Text from the Vatican Radio website.
