by Sr. Gemma Doll, OP, Justice Promoter
Dominican Sisters of Peace is a founding Member of the Alliance, first known as US Sisters Against Human Trafficking. Each year we hold a conference to motivate and educate our Members, Allies, and Survivor partners. Last week about 150 gathered in Baltimore focused on the Prevention of Human Trafficking. The presentations were very broad and covered preventing both sex trafficking and labor trafficking. We heard from staff of the US State Dept. and the UN on the global and national status of human trafficking. The problem is massive and impacts an estimated 6.3 million men, women, and children.
This year many of the participants were young advocates who have joined the Alliance. They included members of law enforcement, lawyers, business entrepreneurs, and truckers. Truckers Against Trafficking brought their TAT semi which they use to recruit other truckers to rescue and protect victims.
Other presenters highlighted the detrimental impact of pornography and bullying. Social media and AI multiply the threat to children. A panel of military and academics gave a disturbing update on the growing number of “child soldiers” (est. 300,000), not only in Africa but around the world. These child soldiers are programmed to be more brutal and trauma-hardened than adult soldiers. These children lack education, and family bonding, and have no home. It is very difficult to reintegrate the child soldier back into his community.
The number one method of prevention is PAY ATTENTION. Notice what doesn’t look right and say/do something. Kindness and conversation might be the first step to freedom for a trafficked person. It takes all of us – government, NGO’s, faith communities, and private businesses -- working as partners to prevent human trafficking.
Thank You, Gemma for this update. These statistics are probably even greater than this. God save our children!
AND help us to act!
An old problem that just gets worse with world globalization, AI, and break up of cultural ties through violence wrought by climate change, politics and economics.
Thank you! So glad DSOP belong to something so promising!
Gemma, I was so pleased to learn how many groups are taking action and helping in many ways to help those being taken advantage of. I had not heard about the children in military combat and their training. Another concept to put on my prayer list.
Thank you, Gemma, for the summary of the meeting you attended on training how we can help prevent Human Trafficking regarding all ages.
Thank you Gemma your work is so important as the work of DSOP.
Dear Gemma,
As I was reading your article I realized how unaware I am of the reality of the depth of human trafficking. Thank you for sharing, and May God continue to bless you for all you do!
Praying daily for the end of human trafficking and for the many children taken from their parents who do not know where they are or what is happening to them. This is a terrible evil in our world. We must never give up in ending this evil still going on for so many years. And for the young that their prayer and ours will aid them in the fight against “Human trafficking”. We are all in this together to end this evil.
Peace and prayer for all trafficked and their helpers to end this evil everyday of our lives.
Sr. Brigid Cannon, OP