January is 'Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness' month.

All people of faith were invited to pray together this past weekend (Jan. 11-13) to strengthen our resolve to work together for an end to human trafficking. Learn more at: http://www.weekendofprayer.net/.

Information can be found in the January issue of Stop Trafficking, which is available at the following link: http://www.stopenslavement.org/index.html

Sisters of Mercy are active in combatting Human Trafficking. Read about their work in Detroit:

http://www.thevarsitynews.net/mercy-sisters-work-to-deter-trafficking-in-detroit-area-1.2974511

Slavery Still Exists: It is Human Trafficking

Human trafficking, both for labor and sex, is among the largest and fastest-growing criminal enterprises in the world. Labor trafficking dominates much of the world economy, and accounts for upwards of two-thirds of the estimated 27 million people enslaved today. Sex trafficking, the more common form in the United States, depends on the willingness of men to pay for sex, and all too often from minors. The average age at which a girl is forced into prostitution in America is 11-13, and it is the most vulnerable among us who are being abused.

Next week our nation celebrates the 150th anniversary of the 'Emancipation Proclamation', as the new film 'Lincoln' details the heroic efforts of our 16th President to secure passage of the 13th Amendment. The 13th Amendment made slavery illegal and so ended slavery in the 1800s for all intents and purposes. Unfortunately, as we now realize, slavery still exists in our country, both in the form of sex trafficking and labor trafficking. During this month of Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness, a number of leaders and faith organizations plan to speak out.

Here are just a few who have done so, so far:

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops http://usccb.org/about/anti-trafficking-program/

Northern California Coalition of Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking Northern_California_Stop_Slavery_Fact_sheet.pdf

Proclamation by President Obama (2010) Presidential_Proclamation.pdf

Band of Sisters, a documentary produced by Mercy Associate Mary Fishman, continues its showings throughout the country. The movie, eight years in the making, highlights the lives of many communities of women religious since Vatican II. In the 50 years since the Council, the sisters have moved into civil rights, women's rights, immigration reform, environmental justice and a host of other causes. Fishman chronicles the changes in their thinking and patterns of living, emphasizing their constant focus on carrying out their mission in new ways.

Mary Fishman is a native of Chicago. She was educated by the Springfield Dominican Sisters at St. Walter School and the Sisters of Mercy at Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, she was an architect and urban planner in Chicago before switching to filmmaking. She began work on Band of Sisters in 2004. For more about the movie and to schedule a showing, visit www.bandofsistersmovie.com.