For Immediate Release
Contact the Sisters of
Charity of the Incarnate Word:
Jennifer Reyes, Assistant
Director of JPIC Office
On World Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking
San Antonio Sisters Continue Their Work to End Human Trafficking
In 2015 Pope Francis declared Feb. 8th World Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, a day which coincides with the Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint for survivors of human trafficking. As this day approaches for the second time, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of San Antonio, TX will participate with prayer and reflection, as they re-commit themselves in their work to end human trafficking and support survivors of human trafficking. In 2015 the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, comprised of approximately 289 Sisters throughout the United States, Mexico, Peru, and Zambia, approved a Corporate Stance Against Human Trafficking (see attachment). This Corporate Stance connects to the Sisters’ charism “to make real the love of God, as shown in the Incarnation, a real and tangible presence in the world today.”
Human Trafficking
is a form of modern day slavery that entraps millions of people around the
world each year, including in the United States. In 2015, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) arrested 1,437 people for human trafficking and rescued nearly 400
survivors in the U.S. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center reported
330 cases of human trafficking in Texas alone in 2015. Just a few weeks ago Texas Attorney General
Ken Paxton announced the creation of a new human trafficking unit for
Texas.
This is an
important issue that calls for everyone to respond and do what they can to end
trafficking and support survivors. Since
taking the Corporate Stance in 2015, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate
Word have joined national networks of religious working on this issue including
U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT) in the U.S. and the Red Kawsay in
Peru. They have hosted educational
workshops in the U.S., Mexico, and Peru, including a workshop last October in
San Antonio focused on educating health care workers about how to recognize the
signs of human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. The Sisters have also been active in advocacy
efforts, with Sr. Katty Huanuco appearing before the Peruvian Congress to
testify on the issue of human trafficking, and a group of Sisters and their
staff participating in a lobby and education day at the Missouri State
Capitol. The Congregation’s Justice,
Peace and Integrity of Creation Office also maintains a blog with regular posts related to human trafficking
education and action items.
As the
Congregation reflects on its commitment to end human trafficking, it is also
making plans to expand its efforts in the future. Recently Sr. Martha Ann Kirk, a professor of
Religious Studies at the University of the Incarnate Word, was awarded a $3000
grant from the Lilly Fellows Program to create faith-based faculty
conversations that can promote service learning and engaged scholarship on
human trafficking. The Congregation is
connected to other schools and health systems including CHRISTUS Health, and is
looking forward to collaborating with them to expand the work against human
trafficking and support of survivors.
The Sisters invite and encourage others to join them in this work to end
modern day slavery.
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