Human Trafficking Awareness Month

Justice and Peace Issues

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month

National Human Trafficking Awareness Month offers an opportunity to reflect on the resilience of trafficking survivors and recognize the efforts of those who work tirelessly to prevent and eliminate this inhumane and devastating form of abuse and exploitation. Human trafficking, a.k.a. modern-day slavery, while illegal in every nation of the world, happens in every nation of the world, including ours. The United States is a top destination for victims of human trafficking. Approximately 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S., primarily to be prostituted, while another 300,000 American children are at risk of being trafficked in the U.S. Prostitution under the age of 18 is considered a form of modern-day slavery. Modern day slavery/trafficking is not just sex trafficking of adults and children. It includes forced labor, debt bondage, domestic servitude, child labor, child soldiers, child brides, and organ trafficking.RESOURCESThe Alliance to End Human Trafficking is an organization founded and supported by U.S. Catholic Sisters. The Alliance works to end human trafficking by providing educational resources, giving presentations, raising awareness, and engaging in advocacy at the state and federal level. They support survivors of human trafficking in healing and thriving through direct services such as providing shelter, counseling, spiritual support, job placement, and educational scholarships. For the Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita (Feb 8), the Alliance has prepared a Toolkit to support your education, prayer, and outreach efforts in the months ahead. To download the Toolkit, click here. 2026 Toolkit – Feast St Josephine Bakhita 2026

Reflection & Prayer CalendarThe Justice and Peace Office of the Srs. of St. Joseph of Orange CA prepare a Daily Reflections Calendar from January 11, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day to Feb. 8, the Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita. You can download the calendar here: 2026 HT ReflectionsPolaris ProjectNamed after the North Star, an historical symbol of freedom, Polaris is leading a survivor-centered, justice- and equity-driven movement to end human trafficking. For nearly 20 years, Polaris operated the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, connecting victims and survivors to support and services, and helping communities hold traffickers accountable. Through that work, Polaris has built the largest known dataset on human trafficking in North America. The data and expertise gained from two decades of working on trafficking situations in real time informs strategies that hold traffickers accountable, support survivors on their healing journeys and address the vulnerabilities that enable the business of stealing freedom for profit.Polaris HotlineFor several years, Holy Union Sisters have displayed a decal on their cars with contact information for the Polaris Hotline. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national, toll-free hotline, available to answer calls, texts, emails, and live chats from anywhere in the United States, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 200 languages. The Trafficking Hotline’s mission is to connect human trafficking victims and survivors to critical support and services to get help and stay safe. The Trafficking Hotline offers round-the-clock access to a safe space to report tips, seek services, and ask for help.Call 1-888-373-7888 | Text 233733 (Befree) | Live Chat

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