Expanding Our Work to Combat Human Trafficking

Incarnate Word Sisters join US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking

Part of the CCVI Congregation's Corporate Stance against human trafficking includes a commitment to connect with other groups and organizations in the countries in which we find ourselves to collaborate in the joint task of ending human trafficking and caring for survivors.  The Congregational JPIC Office of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word is pleased to report that we have now become members of the national coalition of women religious working on human trafficking: the US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT).  We encourage you to explore their website as they have excellent resources for education about human trafficking, action items that you can take to help combat human trafficking, and stories of women religious around the world tackling this important issue of our times.  You can also sign up to be on their mailing list and receive stories and updates about the great work happening around the country and around the world. 

We also encourage you to reach out to other sisters and Congregations in your area who are members of this coalition to join them in their efforts to end human trafficking and support survivors.  One example of this is in Jefferson City, MO on January 26^th, a small group of CCVI sisters along with Jennifer Reyes, Assistant Director of the Congregational JPIC Office, will be tabling together with USCSAHT at the Capitol for a day of education and awareness about human trafficking for MO legislators.   The USCSAHT also has working groups in the areas of Educational Resources, Survivor Services, Legislative Advocacy, and Communications.  Anyone is welcome to join any of these working groups.  If you are interested in joining a working group, please e-mail Jennifer Reyes at Jennifer.Reyes@amormeus.org. 

TAKE ACTION:

One action you can take as encouraged by USCSAHT this month is to contact your representatives (house and senate) about HR 3226 and SB1968 the Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act of 2015, and ask them to co-sponsor and support the Bills.  Summary of the Bill: To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require certain companies to disclose information describing any measures the company has taken to identify and address conditions of forced labor, slavery, human trafficking, and the worst forms of child labor within the company’s supply chains. You can get more talking points at the USCSAHT website. 

Press Conference:

On February 8^th, the feast of St. Bakhita and the World Day of Prayer for Human Trafficking, the Congregational JPIC Office together with the GLT will be holding a Press Conference in San Antonio, TX.  This will be an opportunity to make public our congregational commitment to end human trafficking and support the victims of human trafficking through our Corporate Stance which was approved last year.  We will be sending out the exact details, press release, and prayer resources for February 8^th in a separate correspondence, so please keep an eye out for that. 

Prayer Resources:

Check out this wonderful prayer resource by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, with daily prayers leading up to February 8^th, the feast of St. Bahkita and World Day of Prayer and Awareness about Human Trafficking.