BRANCH OF VINCENTIAN FAMILY INVOLVED IN PROJECT: Daughters of Charity

NAME OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE PROJECT: DC Coalition on Human Trafficking

PROJECT ADDRESS: 96 Menands Rd , Albany, NY 12204-1499

NAME OF CONTACT PERSON: Sr. Pat Evanick D.C.

LENGTH OF TIME THE PROJECT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE: 3 years

In 2007, Sr. Margaret Barrett, D.C., General Councilor for the English speaking countries formed an ad hoc committee to study the issue of human trafficking. The Provinces represented were: Great Britain, Ireland, Australia and the five provinces of the United States. Three meetings were held: Dublin, Ireland, Queens, New York and London, England. The work was brought before the General Assembly of the Daughters of Charity in 2009.

Sr. Catherine Prendergast, Visitatrix of Ireland made the presentation and the members of the General Assembly drafted and sent a letter to the meeting of Women Religious against Human Trafficking that was taking place in Rome, Italy expressing the support and commitment of the Daughters of Charity in the work against human trafficking. Each sister on the committee brought the experiences of the meetings back to her own province. The issue of Human Trafficking was referred to the Interprovincial Peace and Justice Committee

In the Northeast Province the following action steps were taken:

– Contact was made with the Catholic Coalition of Catholic Agencies Against Human Trafficking and with the Catholic Charities USA committee on Human Trafficking (not functioning in 2010)

– The Province, as well as, the majority of US provinces become sponsors of the Human Trafficking Newsletter – STOP TRAFFICKING.

– Presentations were given to the Visitatrix and Council.

– Approval was received to use the weekly Friday Alert to educate the sisters in the province on the issue of human trafficking.

– A break out session on human trafficking was held at the Provincial Assembly to continue educating the sisters about this horrible human tragedy

– Two sisters became members of the STOP Trafficking coalition of religious women in New York State. This group was very effective in working to have the trafficking law passed in New York State, It is an excellent law with the important components of criminalizing all trafficking activity, providing services for victims and education of law enforcement in the identification and treatment of trafficked victims.

– Two sisters have been involved in giving presentations to various groups in the community on the issue of human trafficking

– Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Ogdensburg has trained staff in identifying trafficked victims and appropriate service for this population.




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