The Super Bowl is to be held on Sunday, February 5, in Indianapolis.  LCWR Region VII is doing wonderful work with regard to contacting 220 hotels within a 50-mile radius of the stadium to make them aware that trafficking is a reality and asking them to sign the Code of Conduct for hotels. There are things you can do to stop trafficking at the game.

Here are some items for you.

Please pray the following prayer for trafficking victims:

Creator of us all, our words cannot express what our minds can barely comprehend and our hearts feel when we hear of children and adults deceived and transported to unknown places for purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labour because of human greed.

Our hearts are saddened and our spirits angry that their dignity and rights are being transgressed through threats, deception and force.  We cry out against the degrading practice of trafficking and seek ways for it to end.

Strengthen the fragile-spirited and broken-hearted.  Make real your promises to fill these our sisters and brothers with a love that is tender and good and send the exploiters away empty-handed.  Give us the wisdom and courage to stand in solidarity with them, that together we will find ways to the freedom that is your gift to all of us.  Amen.

--Gen Cassani, SSND

Some stats on human trafficking:

--It is estimated that there are approximately 27 million slaves around the world.

--Around half of trafficking victims in the world are under the age of 18.

--More than two-third of sex trafficked children suffer additional abuse at the hands of their traffickers.

--The average cost of a slave around the world is $90.

Reminder of an action that you can take: 

Please call your Senators and urge them to get the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPRA) passed as soon as possible. The bills Senate number is S. 1301.  This legislation helps to combat human trafficking around the world.

Some resources for you:

Prevent trafficking at the Super Bowl: http://www.ucc.org/justice/womens-issues/human-trafficking.html

When you travel, check out the "Human trafficking letter to hotels" developed by the Sisters of Mercy Justice Team: http://www.mercyinvestmentservices.org/component/content/article/476

Use prayer services from the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center: http://www.ipjc.org

Recognize the signs of trafficking: http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-the-signs


Please do whatever you can to promote the end of trafficking (both sexual and labor trafficking). 

Thanks for taking action on this alert