Human Trafficking

Adrian Dominican Sisters

The Adrian Dominican Sisters “stand in support of human rights by opposing human trafficking (children, women and men) for the purpose of sexual exploitation and any other form of slavery. We will educate ourselves and others regarding the magnitude, causes and consequences of this abuse, wherever we are missioned and throughout the world. …We will advocate for policies and programs that address the prevention of the trafficking of children, women and men.”

–December 2008

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Congregation of Notre Dame

The Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame and their Associates commit themselves to promote actively the respect of human rights by opposing the trafficking of women and children for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.

We, with others, will educate ourselves concerning the extent, the causes and the consequences of this abuse not only where we are missioned, but also worldwide.

In collaboration with other religious Congregations, human rights groups and non- governmental organizations, we will support policies and programs which deal with the abolition and prevention of this type of trafficking thereby making alternate choices available to the women and children thus endangered.

(Adaptation of the statement of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary)

–May 31, 2004

Dominican Sisters of Peace

We, the Dominican Sisters of Peace, proclaim our mission to be a prophetic voice in solidarity with the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed. We, along with our Dominican Associates, commit our support to efforts to end human trafficking.

January 2, 2013

Felician Sisters of North America

The Felician Sisters of North America affirm the dignity of all persons and denounce the sin of human trafficking and the structural, economic and social systems that support it. We will continually examine our complicity as consumers and support slave free companies and products as much as possible, support policies and programs to help abolish and prevent trafficking, and use our ministerial resources to aid survivors where possible. (Adopted 2018)

Sisters of St. Agnes

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes stands in solidarity with the victims of human trafficking and takes a corporate stance against the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation.

Corporate Stance
Adopted by the Congregation on the Feast of St. Agnes, January 21, 2007
Affirmed by the CSA USA Associate Community on November 11, 2020​​​​​​​

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur of the United States

We, Sister of Notre Dame de Namur of the United States, members of an international Catholic congregation, declare our abhorrence of all forms of human trafficking in all the places where it exists, and pledge to work with others for its elimination.

RATIONALE:

Consonant with our faith in the message of Jesus Christ, we affirm the dignity of all persons and their right to justice. We denounce the exploitation of all victims ensnarled in this crime, most especially of women and children.

We stand with others pledging to work for the elimination of human trafficking and its causes, most particularly of the poverty which renders victims vulnerable to traffickers. We pledge to pray for victims and to use our skills and ministerial resources for the healing of victims and just punishment for their tormentors.

IMPLEMENTATION:

We commit ourselves

• to ongoing prayer for the release and healing of those who are trafficked
• to ongoing prayer for the traffickers for their change of heart and repentance
• to educate our publics about trafficking
• to support the UN agenda on anti-trafficking
• to advocate for anti-trafficking legislation
• to minister to victims of human trafficking in collaboration with others
• to participate in socially responsible projects to reduce poverty
• to foster consumer awareness of goods produced by modern slaves

ACCOUNTABILITY:

• to review our accountability of implementation annually.

Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, Joliet Wisconsin

 

Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, IN

Rationale

Because we know that:

• Human trafficking is global in scope; as many as 27 million people are trapped in slavery.
• Nearly 21 million people are victims of forced labor; several million more are sex slaves.
• “The convergence of widespread poverty, demand for cheap labor, gender discrimination, economic and social underdevelopment, conflicts, and corruption in the exercise of power and control by groups or by governments provide fertile grounds for human trafficking.”¹
• “Human trafficking will never be truly defeated without eliminating the consumerism that feeds it and prosecuting those in receiving countries … that benefit because of the exploitation of vulnerable human beings.”²
• The Universal Declaration on Human Rights prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude.³

Because we believe that:

“Whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where people are treated as mere tools for profit rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others of their like are infamies indeed. They poison human society … they are supreme dishonor to the Creator.”⁴

We endorse the following Corporate Stand.

Corporate Stand Statement

We, the Sisters of the Holy Cross,

• affirm the dignity and human rights of all persons, and
• denounce the sin of human trafficking and the economic and social systems and conditions that breed it.

We support policies, initiatives and programs that:

• detect and severely penalize those guilty of human trafficking;
• eliminate the economic incentives for trafficking;
• promote sustainable, equitable development and eliminate extreme poverty;
• rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate trafficking victims; and
• educate and mobilize groups to take effective action to end human trafficking.

We oppose economic practices that create conditions that increase human vulnerability and enable human trafficking to flourish:

• poverty and underdevelopment which result in limited employment opportunities;
• destruction of the environment which destroys sources of income and contributes to forced migration; and
• a culture of greed that permits the abuse of persons for profit and pleasure.

We acknowledge that to end the horrific crime of human trafficking, we must all work together — governments, international and national non-governmental organizations, communities and individuals. As Sisters of the Holy Cross, we must join with others to:

• eliminate the root causes and markets that make trafficking profitable,
• ensure that traffickers are pursued and prosecuted, and
• assist survivors to recover and flourish in mind, body and spirit.

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Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary

As members of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an International and multicultural congregation of women religious, we pledge to work for the eradication of all forms of human trafficking and its causes, particularly among women and children, wherever we live and minister.

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary

The General Chapter unanimously affirmed the statement: “The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary recognize the trafficking of human persons as a form of modern day slavery. We oppose this grave violation of human rights and dignity. We will work towards the elimination of human trafficking in all its forms.”

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Corporate Stance against Human Trafficking (2014)

That the Sisters of Charity, BVM, in accordance with our mission and core values of freedom, education, charity and justice, oppose the trafficking of human persons for any purpose whatsoever.

We stand in solidarity with all who work to eliminate this tragic evil. We pledge ourselves as a congregation to these actions:

• Through prayer and study, we will educate ourselves and others regarding the magnitude, causes and consequences of human trafficking.
• Through collaboration with others, we will work for changes in society on both the state and federal level by supporting anti-trafficking legislation that protects the rights of all human beings and helps to provide resources for their healing as survivors of trafficking.
• We will participate in highlighting issues related to trafficking and all forms of sexual and labor exploitation, especially prior to political, cultural, and athletic events.