“Buying sex is not a sport”

International sporting events are widely recognized as times when human trafficking and sexual exploitation increase. These are new forms of what has come to be known as “modern slavery”.

Already sensitized to the phenomenon of human trafficking with the adoption of the corporate stand by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM), the religious of Lesotho actively participated with other groups in a public awareness campaign against the dangers of human trafficking.

This campaign was inspired by numerous other actions carried out around the world, notably during the Formula One Grand Prix, in Montreal, the United States and elsewhere. The aim of these campaigns is to educate and bring about a change in mentalities, so as not to trivialize the commodification of the human body.

In Quebec, the Comité d’action contre la traite humaine interne et internationale (CATHII) took advantage of the activities surrounding the Canadian Grand Prix to sensitize Montreal hotel staff to the problem of trafficking. Numerous other actions followed, such as the distribution of leaflets and door hangers to provide information and resources to victims, a vigil of silence and promotional campaigns in bus shelters and on social media (e.g.: Buying sex is not a sport, Too high a price for women and girls…).

In Latin America, particularly in Brazil, SNJMs work with groups to raise awareness among the general public, cab drivers and hotel staff.