 Stop
Trafficking
How many of us realize that slavery is thriving in
the 21st century? The
housekeeper down the street, the agricultural worker stooped in the field,
the prostitute on the corner…
What do we really know about these persons?
Human trafficking involves victims who are tricked or
coerced into sexual or labor exploitation. Conservative estimates include
the fact that 50,000 women are brought to the United States each year.
Many leave their country of origin to find decent jobs with the intention
of sending money back to their families. As a global criminal business,
the figures range from 700,000 to two million people trafficked annually.
The estimates include women and children who are forced into prostitution
or forced labor.
One appalling news fact following the December 2004
tsunami disaster was the number of predators who were on the scene in less
than forty-eight hours to claim survivors for human trafficking.
A large part of addressing this global challenge is
consciousness raising. To accomplish this, Sisters Sheila Novak and Jean
Schafer are ministering along the Central Coast region of California. They
are trying to raise awareness of this issue and to engage others so that
concrete personal and communal responses can be forged.
Sister Jean began the Stop Trafficking electronic
newsletter to inform and educate. Today many women’s religious
congregations across the country are using it for their own education as
well as in presentations for others. It is being used on college campuses,
in parishes, and is sent to a variety of organizations.
“We are strengthening the communication network
among women religious. We are speaking out, writing articles, and
contacting legislators. Yet more action is needed,” Sister Jean
emphasized.
The Salvatorian Sisters now have a national
reputation for fighting trafficking based on Sisters Jean and Sheila’s
efforts. Sister Jean’s newsletter is published on the Internet, which
has broadened its audience. |
