In 2004, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) adopted their first corporate stand to prevent and stop human trafficking. This phenomenon, also known as “modern slavery”, includes situations of sexual exploitation, which particularly affects women (46%) and young girls (19%), as well as forced labor, especially of children, domestic work, etc.
SNJMs work independently or in collaboration with other organizations to develop policies and programs to curb human trafficking. They are part of the international network of consecrated life against human trafficking, known as Talitha Kum.
As such, they contribute to activities such as the February 8 online prayer pilgrimage in honor of Saint Josephine Bakhita. They participate in working meetings where they build relationships with several groups, including:
- S. Catholic Sisters against Human Trafficking,
- Red Kawsay in Peru,
- Red Gito Pela Vida in Brazil, known in French as “Un cri pour la vie”,
- CATHII (Comité d’action contre la traite humaine interne et internationale – Action Committee against Internal and International Human Trafficking) created in Quebec by a group of religious congregations
Diversified means to counter the global phenomenon
This organization is recognized throughout Canada for its expertise on the subject. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops delegated it to an international event organized by the Vatican on this topic. The organization is lobbying government authorities for the adoption of a provincial plan to fight human trafficking and for access to an open work permit for agricultural workers to prevent their exploitation. A succession program for young university students in order to make them aware of human trafficking issues in their future practice has been underway since 2020. It has reached students from a dozen different faculties (ranging from law to medicine, criminology, journalism and public affairs).
Since the adoption of this collective position, SNJM sisters and affiliates, as well as lay staff from SNJM schools and the general and provincial administrations of the congregation, have been organizing or participating in various events and campaigns. This takes many forms, including demonstrations, petitions and letters to governments and organizers of international sporting events that are known to be breeding grounds for sexual exploitation and trafficking. Another example of concrete action is the distribution of leaflets and flyers to raise awareness among cab drivers, hotel chain staff and other public places during car races, the soccer World Cup, etc.
As mentioned by the United Nations (UN), the phenomenon of human trafficking affects almost every country in the world, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination of the victims. It affects thousands of women, men and children every year. The UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons “defines trafficking in persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation… ”