“Trafficking in persons still constitutes an open wound on the body of contemporary society. I offer heartfelt thanks to all those who work on behalf of the innocent victims of the commodification of the human person. Much remains to be done!”
Here are a few steps you can take to end human trafficking:
- Stay abreast on the latest anti-trafficking news and programs from the USCCB, the Vatican, S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking, and Talitha Kum
- CALL The National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888 if you suspect a case of human trafficking or seek services.
- TALK about human trafficking with friends, family and co-workers to share learning and raise awareness.
- LEARN good corporate practice from leading NGO’s like ECPAT, Thorn, The International Labor Organization, and UNICEF’s Children Rights and Business Principles
- BE a knowledgeable consumer by reviewing sites like GoodWeave, the List of Products Produced by Forced or Indentured Child Labor, and download apps like Sweat & Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World
- VOTE your shares in favor of shareholder resolutions that call on companies to create and implement strong policies to prevent human trafficking and review the proxy voting guide from The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.
- GIVE your business to companies that are demonstrating leadership, such as those that have high scores from KnowTheChain and signed The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism.
- CHECK the websites of your favorite companies for information on their anti-trafficking policies and programs and let them know if they are doing a good job of communicating their performance; customer opinions matter!