Human Trafficking

The Congregation of St. Joseph is dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable among us. We believe that all people have basic human rights and we work to ensure that all human beings are treated with respect and dignity. We further believe it is our responsibility to work towards ending labor and sex trafficking, to assist victims of this modern-day form of slavery, and to support the rights of workers as they seek decent work, just wages, and safe working conditions.

TraffickCam App

TraffickCam App – In 2015, the Congregation partnered with and donated funds to help the Exchange Initiative and Washington University in St. Louis develop an app for smartphones designed to help fight human sex trafficking. Called TraffickCam, the app empowers travelers to help in the fight against sex trafficking by taking photos of their hotel rooms and anonymously uploading them to a national database used by law enforcement to identity hotels where trafficking is taking place. The app is available for free in iTunes for both iPhone and Android users. To learn more, click here to read an article from our imagineONE magazine.

Collaborations and Partnerships

The congregation partners with several organizations to help educate and raise awareness about human sex and labor trafficking. Healing Action Network in St. Louis works to educate the public, change legislation, and directly assist victims of human trafficking. The congregation also uses Nix Conference & Meeting Management, a socially responsible meeting planning management company committed to combating commercial sexual exploitation of children to plan our large meetings and gatherings. We also support the Alliance to End Human Trafficking and support their efforts to underscore the link between human trafficking and forced migration.

Advocacy and Education

The congregation stands with and for those who are victims of or affected by human trafficking. We advocate for victims, demonstrate against human trafficking at various events, and are members of organizations such as LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious) who oppose human trafficking in all its forms.