HUMAN TRAFFICKING – A GLOBAL PROBLEM – OUR CHRISTIAN RESPONSE

Resolve to fight human trafficking in 2015 –
Make a personal commitment to take action against trafficking

About 21 million people are enslaved throughout the world.  On January 1st, 2015, Pope Francis commemorated the World Day of Peace with the theme “Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters.”
When we recognize the dignity of others, we are compelled to work for an end to all that exploits and enslaves them, such as human trafficking, exploitation and slave labor.  We must assist the victims and address the problems and issues which create conditions ripe for abuse.

Learn more:
The Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking (www.usccb.org) brings together national and international Catholic agencies working to eliminate the scourge of human trafficking.
Catholic Charities USA (www.catholiccharitiesusa.org)
The Global Freedom Network (www.gfn2020.org) 
Caritas (www.caritas.org) 
Talitha Kum (www.talithakum.org) 

Become a responsible consumer:
Visit Catholic Relief Services (www.crsfairtrace.org) to learn how.

Advocate:
Engage our elected officials.  Ask what they are doing to combat trafficking and press them to take action against this issue in our community and in our nation.  Visit the USCCB’s migration policy page (http://usccb.org/about/migration-policy/position-papers/index.cfm) to learn more about current legislative issues.  Act globally on the “root causes” of trafficking through Catholics Confront Global Poverty (http://www.confrontglobalpoverty.org), a joint initiative of the USCCB and CRS.

Report trafficking:
Report any suspected trafficking, exploitation or suspicious activity to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737-888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).  Add these numbers to your cell phone!    If a victim is in urgent need of assistance, please contact law enforcement immediately.

Pray:
Loving Father, we seek your divine protection for all who are exploited and enslaved; for those forced into labor, trafficked into slavery and denied freedom.  We beseech You to release them from their chains.  Grant them protection, safety and empowerment.  Restore their dignity and provide to them a new beginning.

Show us how we might end exploitation by addressing its causes.  Help us reach out in support of victims and survivors of human trafficking.  Make us instruments of Your spirit for their liberation.
For this we pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.