Today, January 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness day. On this day, we recognize the ways in which slavery continues to exist in our world today. Whether it is in the fields for our tomatoes or in the bedroom of hotel room, girls and boys, women and men are trafficked every day.
This modern slavery is not new. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with others work to end the abuse of slavery in our world.
Teresa Lockhart Stricklen, Associate for Worship, Office of Theology and Worship with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Human Trafficking Roundtable developed worship resources dedicated to the issue of human trafficking.
The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations works on the issue of human trafficking in multiple ways. We engage United Nations agencies, some of which are listed below. We advocate for a human rights based approach for rescue and treatment of victims and we work in coalition with other organizations in the NGO Committee Against Trafficking in Persons.
UN agencies working on the issue of human trafficking include:
- International Labour Organization: ILO focuses on forced labor, child labor and migrant workers of human trafficking.
- International Organization for Migration: IOM works on preventing human trafficking, protecting the victims through targeted assistance, and empowering governments and other agencies to combat the crime more effectively.
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: OHCHR’s trafficking program integrates human rights into anti-trafficking initiatives at the legal, political and program levels.
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe: OSCE works closely with its 56 participating States to ensure coordination among member States and to emphasize the importance of combating all forms of trafficking in human beings – in countries of origin, transit and destination – at the highest political levels.
- UNICEF: UNICEF works with many partners in all areas – from the grassroots to the highest political levels – to create a protective environment for children from human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: UNODC provides the legal and conceptual framework and focuses on the criminal justice system response to human trafficking, but includes provisions on victim protection and preventive measures.
God of justice and creation
Free us from the chains that bind us
Free us from complacency
Free our sisters and brothers
Free this world and all your
For in Your grace, we are set free
Amen