The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me

Presentation to the Mission Leadership Forum

by the New York Coalition of Religious Congregations

to Stop Trafficking of Persons

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

The Lord has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Luke 4:18)

My Call

• Why am I working to stop human trafficking?

• What touched me to start this work?

• Influence- RSHM founder and the founding sisters working with prostitutes.

• Also I was influenced by the following actions:

In 2001Over 800 Superiors of the

International Union of Superiors General took a stance against

human trafficking.

• In 2001, the US Leadership Conference of women and men religious jointly took a stance against human trafficking.

Corporate Stance

• Most of the 35 members of the Stop Coalition have taken a Corporate Stance.

• I will share mine from my Religious Order and Joan will share hers later. 

RSHM Corporate Stance

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.”

•In 2003, after ministry in Zimbabwe, Africa •I returned to US - became the JPIC Animator for our Province.

•Human trafficking was a deep concern for us.

In February 2004

• Four Catholic nuns - death threats for exposing an organ trafficking network operating in northern Mozambique.

• Alert sent to International JPIC and many wrote to Mozambique Government

Some action taken by the government

• In September, our former Provincial leader, Sr. Letizia began to visit trafficked women at the Detention Center in Rome, Italy.

• Our sisters in our Provinces and Regions were also working to stop modern-day slavery.

 In June 2005, Joan and I went to a

national conference on human trafficking sponsored by the USCCB

in Baltimore, MD

Then we came together to work to stop

modern-day slaverythus

the New York Coalition of Religious Congregations to Stop Trafficking of Persons

(NY-CRC-STOP)was born

First Co-Chairs of NY-CRC-STOPMary Heyser, RSHM and Joan Dawber, SC of Halifax

Some members of the STOPCore Committee

Mary Heyser, RSHM; Joan Dawber, SC; Pat Murray, MM; 

Geraldine Kennedy, OSU; and Ethel Howley, SSND

35 RELIGIOUS ORDERSare members of NY-CRC-STOP

Congregation of St. Joseph of BrentwoodCongregation of St Joseph of CarondeletCong of the Infant JesusDaughters of WisdomDominican Sisters of HopeCongregation of Notre DameFranciscan Handmaids of MaryFranciscan Sisters of PeaceFranciscan Sisters of the AtonementFranciscans Sisters of the PoorInstitute of the Sisters of St. LouisMarist Brothers Maryknoll SistersMissionaries Sisters of Heart of JesusMissionary Franciscan Srs of the IC Oblate Srs Most Holy RedeemerReligious of the Sacred Heart of Mary

Religious Sisters of Mercy, NortheastSchool Sisters of Notre Dame School Sisters of St. FrancisSister of Charity of Halifax Sisters of Charity, NYSisters of Divine CompassionSisters of St Dominic of AmityvilleSisters of St Dominic of Blauvelt Sisters of St Dominic of Sparkill Sisters of St. DorothySisters of St. UrsulaSisters of the Good ShepherdSisters Holy Names of Jesus and MarySisters of the Presentation of the BVMSociety of Jesus, MD, N Eng. & NY Society of the Holy Child JesusUrsuline of the Roman UnionUrsuline of Tildonk• 

The STOP Coalition'sWorkshops on Human Trafficking

• Legislation on Trafficking and Safe Horizon

• A Global Problem with Local Ramifications

• The Human Face of Trafficking

• Working Together to End the Demand for Human Trafficking

• Taking the Next Steps: Stop the Demand for Human Trafficking

• Human Trafficking of Young Women

• The True Cost of the Low Price: Labor Trafficking & Consumerism

• Human Trafficking: Whose Business Is It? The Travel Industry’s Role in Ending Modern-Day Slavery

I WILL NOW TALK ABOUT TWO OF THESE WORKSHOPS

• The Human Face of Trafficking

• The True Cost of the Low Price: Labor Trafficking & Consumerism

The Human Face of Trafficking We were invited us

to look closely at the people

caught in this modern-day slavery and hear their stories.

THREE of the STORIES from this Workshop

The other Workshop that I want to tell you about concerns Labor Trafficking Geraldo Reyes

• The True Cost of the Low Price: Labor Trafficking & Consumerism – conducted by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and a panel on: – Fair Trade Activities– Sweat Shops– Socially Responsible Investments

• Now we will watch some You-tubes that tell what was presented:• Harvest of Shame • Fair Trade

The True Cost of the Low Price: Labor Trafficking & Consumerism

White House Forum to Combat Human Trafficking -- -- the CIW and the Fair Food Program were recognized

•United Nations delegation - two days in Immokalee –

current initiatives, opportunities and challenges in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the country.

In addition to our Workshops we held two Days of Discernment

We discovered that although our Religious Orders have

DIFFERENT CHARISMS,

We were Sensing the presence of our founders and foundresses

UNITING US TO WORKTO STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING

At these Days of Discernment we set up three sub-committees: 

Education, Legislative/Advocacy, 

and Housing

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

• Does outreach to parishes, schools, clubs and organizations through education and awareness raising efforts

LEGISLATIVE/ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

• Lobby Days in Albany, NY  • updates the STOP Coalition members on legislation 

• encourages follow-up letters to make sure the laws are funded and accomplishing their goals.

Members of the STOP Coalitionwork for and monitor the National

Human Trafficking Laws

The HOUSING COMMITTEEcreated short term

Emergency Safe Spaces and volunteer training through 

LifeWay Network. Through the help of the STOP Coalition members LifeWay was

able to open LifeWay House

The STOP Coalition collaborates with faith-based and other networks to end modern-day slavery locally, statewide,

nationally and globallySafe Horizon Equality NowICCR/TRI-CRI NYC Anti-Trafficking CoalitionSanctuary for Families NY State Anti-Trafficking Group

Polaris Project Westchester Task Force

The STOP Coalition has educated and empowered

our Membership and Colleagues to take action against human trafficking

We ask ourselves…“Lord, when did we see you

hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,

or naked and clothe you?

When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?

‘When you did it for one of these,

you did it for me.” Mt 25:39-40

And the Lord will answer

We now turn to Sr. Joan