be generous & you will be prosperous. help others & you will be helped. / proverbs 11.28...

Be generous & you will be prosperous. Help others & you will be helped. / Proverbs 11.28

Border to BorderBorder to Border

The Human Rights ChallengeThe Human Rights ChallengeHere and Abroad Here and Abroad

Presented by:Presented by: the Sisters of St. Dominic at the Sisters of St. Dominic at

Caldwell, NJCaldwell, NJand STM Public Discipleship and STM Public Discipleship

MinistryMinistry


Human Trafficking, Human Trafficking, a global problema global problem

• An estimated 50,000 women & children An estimated 50,000 women & children are trafficked into the US every year.are trafficked into the US every year.

• The largest # of people trafficked into the The largest # of people trafficked into the US come from East Asia and the PacificUS come from East Asia and the Pacific

• The next highest #’s come from Latin The next highest #’s come from Latin America and from Europe and EurasiaAmerica and from Europe and Eurasia

• (US Dept of Justice, Health & Human Services, State, Labor, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and (US Dept of Justice, Health & Human Services, State, Labor, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and the US Agency for Int’l Development 2004. the US Agency for Int’l Development 2004. Assessment of US Gov’t Activities to Combat Assessment of US Gov’t Activities to Combat Trafficking in Persons.Trafficking in Persons. Wash, DC: US Dept of Justice.) Wash, DC: US Dept of Justice.)


Think it’s not happening Think it’s not happening here? Think again.here? Think again.

• Summer 2004, 60 Peruvian victims of sex trade were Summer 2004, 60 Peruvian victims of sex trade were found in Long Island, found in Long Island,

• Similar cases in Texas with African choir boys,Similar cases in Texas with African choir boys,• Also in Oklahoma with Indian factory workers,Also in Oklahoma with Indian factory workers,• Same in California with Asian women & children sold Same in California with Asian women & children sold

into prostitution,into prostitution,• Occurring as well in Maryland, with African servants Occurring as well in Maryland, with African servants

kept as slaves by medical doctors & members of kept as slaves by medical doctors & members of foreign embassies,foreign embassies,

• Here in NJ with Mexican children in a brothel,Here in NJ with Mexican children in a brothel,• Also in Florida with Honduran migrant farm workers, Also in Florida with Honduran migrant farm workers,

and in and in • NYC with Mexican deaf-mutes forced to peddle trinketsNYC with Mexican deaf-mutes forced to peddle trinkets


Catholic Social TeachingCatholic Social Teaching

• Life and Dignity of the Human PersonLife and Dignity of the Human Person• Call to Family, Community and Call to Family, Community and

ParticipationParticipation• Rights and ResponsibilitiesRights and Responsibilities• Option for the Poor and VulnerableOption for the Poor and Vulnerable• The Dignity of Work and the Rights of The Dignity of Work and the Rights of

WorkersWorkers• SolidaritySolidarity• Care for God’s CreationCare for God’s Creation


Some Hard FactsSome Hard Facts

• Child sexual trafficking is a $10 billion Child sexual trafficking is a $10 billion industry worldwideindustry worldwide

• Traffickers are the second largest organized Traffickers are the second largest organized crime ring in historycrime ring in history

• This issue affects more than 2 million This issue affects more than 2 million children around the world & more than children around the world & more than 200,000 children in the US200,000 children in the US

• Between 50 – 60% of children in sexual Between 50 – 60% of children in sexual slavery are under age 16slavery are under age 16

• An est. $9.5 billion in revenue is generated An est. $9.5 billion in revenue is generated from all trafficking activities ($4 billion to from all trafficking activities ($4 billion to brothel industry)brothel industry)


What can we do?What can we do?

• Organize a letter-writing campaign – it works!Organize a letter-writing campaign – it works!

• Host/support Fair Trade Exchange ProgramHost/support Fair Trade Exchange Program

• Attend Human Rights Workshop on 3/28/06Attend Human Rights Workshop on 3/28/06

• Participate in local Crop Walk – Fall 2006 Participate in local Crop Walk – Fall 2006

• If not now, when? If not me, If not now, when? If not me, who?who?


Additional Actions We Additional Actions We Can TakeCan Take

• International Justice MissionInternational Justice Mission (888-456-4499)works to (888-456-4499)works to rescue girls from forced prostitution by working with rescue girls from forced prostitution by working with indigenous government officials & even raiding brothels. indigenous government officials & even raiding brothels. www.iijm.org www.iijm.org

• The Heifer ProjectThe Heifer Project (800-489-5575): Buy a farm animal (800-489-5575): Buy a farm animal for a needy woman & you’ll give her the resources to for a needy woman & you’ll give her the resources to support herself. www.heifer.orgsupport herself. www.heifer.org

• Maiti NepalMaiti Nepal: This organization crusades to help victims : This organization crusades to help victims of sexual trafficking. Sponsor a victim, make a donation, of sexual trafficking. Sponsor a victim, make a donation, or just find out more info: www.maitinepal.orgor just find out more info: www.maitinepal.org

• UNICEFUNICEF supports children around the world through supports children around the world through advocacy, education, volunteering & fundraising: visit advocacy, education, volunteering & fundraising: visit www.unicel.org or call 1-800-FOR-KIDS (1-800-367-www.unicel.org or call 1-800-FOR-KIDS (1-800-367-5437)5437)


What Else Can Be Done?What Else Can Be Done?

• Increase poverty-focused development assistanceIncrease poverty-focused development assistance• Encourage congressional support of agricultural & Encourage congressional support of agricultural &

business development in less developed countries business development in less developed countries

• Support Debt Cancellation measures for foreign Support Debt Cancellation measures for foreign countries least able to repay such obligationscountries least able to repay such obligations

• Urge smart use of government-held food reservesUrge smart use of government-held food reserves• Designate at least 10% of our exportable food for Designate at least 10% of our exportable food for

concessionary sales or grants to food-short nations concessionary sales or grants to food-short nations


Local Congressional Local Congressional Contact InfoContact Info

• Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D)Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D) One Gateway Center, 23One Gateway Center, 23rdrd Floor Floor Newark, N.J. 07102Newark, N.J. 07102 Phone: 973-639-8700Phone: 973-639-8700

• Senator Robert Menendez (D)Senator Robert Menendez (D) One Gateway Center, Suite 100One Gateway Center, Suite 100 Newark, N.J. 07102Newark, N.J. 07102 Phone: 973-645-3030 Phone: 973-645-3030


Reading Resources / Reading Resources / Reference BibliographyReference Bibliography

• ““DESPAIR”, by Ed Vulliamy, Amnesty DESPAIR”, by Ed Vulliamy, Amnesty International, Winter 2005International, Winter 2005

• ““Preying on the Margins”, by Mary Ellen Preying on the Margins”, by Mary Ellen Dougherty, 1/30/06 issue of AmericaDougherty, 1/30/06 issue of America

• ““United Nations Reform and Human Rights”, United Nations Reform and Human Rights”, by Silvano M. Tomasi, 9/12/05 issue of by Silvano M. Tomasi, 9/12/05 issue of AmericaAmerica

• ““What Carried the Girls Away”, by Eve What Carried the Girls Away”, by Eve Conant, Idea Lab, 2/12/06 issue of NY Times Conant, Idea Lab, 2/12/06 issue of NY Times Magazine,Magazine,

• ““The End Of Poverty”, author, Jeffrey D. SachsThe End Of Poverty”, author, Jeffrey D. Sachs• ““How To End Poverty”, 3/14/05 issue of Time How To End Poverty”, 3/14/05 issue of Time

magazinemagazine


Additional Resources on Additional Resources on the Webthe Web

• www.congress.orgwww.congress.org• www.jubileeinterfaith.orgwww.jubileeinterfaith.org• www.usinfo.state.gov/gi/www.usinfo.state.gov/gi/

global_issues/human_trafficking.htmlglobal_issues/human_trafficking.html• www.usdoj.gov/trafficking.htmlwww.usdoj.gov/trafficking.html• www.acf.hhs.gov/traffickingwww.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking• www.antislavery.orgwww.antislavery.org• www.IINJ.orgwww.IINJ.org

be generous & you will be prosperous. help others & you will be helped. / proverbs 11.28...

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