Tuesday, June 12, 2018

World Refugee Day and Human Trafficking

On World Refugee Day, June 20, we take time to remember the strength, courage, and resilience of the millions forced to flee their homes by violence of every kind. Today, more than 50 million people are displaced by war and violence, some 33.3 million in their own country and 16.7 million as refugees, mostly in neighboring countries. Every 15 minutes a family is forced to flee their homeland.

The US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking Advocacy Working Group has prepared a Toolkit for World Refugee Day, highlighting the connection between the plight of refugees and their vulnerability to human trafficking.  Men, women, and children are made vulnerable to human trafficking by the mass displacement caused by violence, extreme poverty, humanitarian crises, natural disasters, and conflict. Impoverished, vulnerable people are targeted by traffickers who promise to provide education and opportunity only to exploit them through forced labor, sexual exploitation, enslavement, or organ theft.

We invite you to take action on June 20, World Refugee Day to #StopRefugeeTrafficking.

1) We are asking you to make calls to your senators asking the senators to support the bipartisan bill, S. 1580. Here is a sample script, talking points, and a link to the bill. https://bit.ly/2Jmg51T

Call your Senators and ask them to co-sponsor the bi-partisan S. 1580, “Protecting Girls’ Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act.”  You can find your Senators’ contact information here. Alternatively you can call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office.

Suggested Script: 
I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN] and as a person of faith [and a Catholic sister], on World Refugee Day I urge you to do all that you can to protect and support refugees and to ensure that our country fulfills its legal and moral obligation to welcome refugees.

Today, more than 22 million people have been forced to flee their countries to escape violence, persecution, or natural disasters. More than half of these refugees are children. Refugee children, especially girls, are vulnerable to human trafficking, early marriage, and forced labor. Providing opportunities for education is one way to reduce their risk of being trafficked.

You can support refugee children by co-sponsoring the bi-partisan S. 1580“Protecting Girls’ Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act.” This bill will help to ensure that refugee children, especially girls, have access to education that will strengthen and empower them. 

2)  View the World Refugee day Campaign materials on the USCSAHT website for additional action items.

3)  Resources to help you plan to #StopRefugeeTrafficking:

4)  Additional resources from our friends and colleagues:


No comments:

Post a Comment