The Super Bowl is one the largest sporting events in the country. Tens of thousands will flock to the stadium and millions will watch from home. However, at events like these, it is essential we not only keep track of the game, but also, the potential victims of human trafficking that are most vulnerable at these large gatherings. In fact, every year 50 million people are trafficked somewhere in the world for either labor or sex.

Joining Gloria on “The Gloria Purvis Podcast” is Sr. Anne Victory, a board member at U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking who has led efforts against human trafficking for over a decade.

According to the U.S. Sisters Against Human trafficking, this crime, “occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will.”

Sr. Anne describes the most common circumstances in which people get trafficked, profiles of traffickers, and what to look out for. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, please call (888) 373-7888. Even if you’re not certain, Sr. Anne encourages you to report what you see and leave the investigation with local law enforcement who are specially trained for these cases: “just know that they'd rather have you report it and save someone's life than be wrong.”

While the topic of human trafficking is dark, Sr. Anne continues to find hope in her work to end it. “I think one of the ways that I keep the faith is I've seen the difference since when we started fifteen years ago working on this. And now people are a little more aware,” says Sr. Anne, “Even becoming educated about it is doing something, becoming involved in fair trade and understanding what fair trade is and how our purchases make a difference, or how the stock we hold makes a difference.”

Links:

U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking

www.slaveryfootprint.org

America’s interview with Pope Francis

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