Trafficking of Women & Children (Human Dignity)
More than 700,000 people are trafficked across borders annually.

School Sisters of Notre Dame are involved in a variety of issues concerning the preservation of basic human rights and human dignity, perhaps none as compelling as the trafficking of women and children.

Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. Each year an estimated 700,000 to 1.5 million people worldwide fall victim to international traffickers. These victims, predominately women and children, are forced into unpaid labor, debt bondage, coerced prostitution or sexual servitude, often under the direction of international organized crime rings. The trafficking of human beings is the third largest source of profit for international organized crime, after drugs and arms, with revenue amounting to billions of dollars each year.

As many as 20,000 to 50,000 women and children are believed to be trafficked into the United States every year. Some are lured with the promise of paid employment in legitimate jobs; others are abducted or purchased from family members. Their compliance is secured by vicious traffickers, who take their legal documents and threaten physical violence against them and their family members.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame Respond
The School Sisters of Notre Dame are working on the cessation of trafficking in a variety of ways. Many sisters have written letters and contacted their congressional representatives about trafficking-related legislation. We are active members of the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking. We supported the development of the Trafficking in Women and Children Information and Workshop Kit produced by the Working Group on Trafficking in Women and Children in Rome, and we've developed our own theological reflection packet on trafficking. As a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) of the United Nations, the School Sisters of Notre Dame also monitor and support UN initiatives directed at addressing this most serious issue.

What You Can Do
Let Your Voice Be Heard – Contact your Congressional representatives about your concerns on trafficking. Now is a particularly good time to do this since Congress will be considering reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, PL 106-386, which was originally adopted by Congress in 2000

Pray
Add this Prayer for an End to Trafficking to your daily/weekly prayers. Or, during this Lenten season, m ake the issue of trafficking a special focus for your prayers.  Click on the links below for trafficking focused prayers and reflections for each week of Lent.

Advent Prayers & Reflections:
During this Advent season, please consider making the issue of trafficking a special focus for your prayers. Click on the links below for trafficking focused prayers and reflections for each week of Advent.