Media CenterNew Campaign Spotlights 21 Million Human Trafficking Victims Worldwide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Susan Gossling Walters
(443) 955-7103 (desk)
(410) 925-8268 (cell)
[email protected]

BALTIMORE, MD, January 3, 2017 – In partnership with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is launching the ‘Turn on the Light’ campaign to combat human trafficking, the modern-day form of slavery that Pope Francis has called “an open wound on the body of contemporary society, a scourge upon the body of Christ… a crime against humanity."

The campaign coincides with Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January and with Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11.

“There are 21 million victims of human trafficking worldwide today,” said Joan Rosenhauer, vice president of U.S. Operations for CRS, which is the official overseas humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. “In some ways, that means there are more people in slavery than at any time in history.”

Launched under the umbrella of Catholics Confront Global Poverty, Turn on the Light calls on Catholics and people of goodwill across the U.S. to spend their consumer dollars on ethically produced and traded products while pressing government leaders to strengthen and enforce anti-trafficking laws.

“Poverty alone does not necessarily create vulnerability to trafficking, but when combined with other factors -- especially civil unrest, and there is so much of that in the world today – there is a higher risk for being trafficked,” said Rosenhauer. "The causes of human trafficking are complex and interlinked, so strategies to combat it must address both supply and demand.” 

“At CRS we have fought human trafficking and helped its victims with more than 145 projects worldwide since 2000. Our work connects us directly to the lived realities of those we serve and acts as the foundation for developing and supporting policies and procedures to fight trafficking,” she added.  

Bill O’Keefe, CRS’ vice president for government relations and advocacy, pointed out that, worldwide, human trafficking is a $150 billion enterprise.

“People are lured away from their homes and families with false promises of legitimate work,” he said.  “They end up in mines, fields, factories, farms, construction sites, homes, hotels, restaurants and workrooms, with low or no pay, terrible conditions, often unable to pay off dubious debts.”

“Many of the goods they produce are sold in the U.S.,” O’Keefe added.  “We want to raise awareness of this and ask people to use their voices and their purchasing power to combat it.”

The ‘Turn on the Light’ campaign urges people to contact their Senators and Representatives to advocate for key anti-trafficking legislation and to purchase a ‘Turn on the Light’ soy candle made by women who have recently resettled in the U.S. from refugee camps. Proceeds will support CRS’ work combating human trafficking and promoting ethical trade practices.

For an interview with Joan Rosenhauer, please contact Susan Walters.

To learn more, visit Catholics Confront Global Poverty and watch the ‘Turn on the Light’ campaign video on CRS’ YouTube channel.

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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For more information, please visit crs.org or crsespanol.org and follow CRS on social media: Facebook, @CatholicRelief, @CRSnews, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.