“If you think it’s not happening
in a neighborhood
near you,
you’re probably wrong.”
Aware that New Jersey, especially the city of Newark, is a hub for illegal
human trafficking, the Caldwell Dominican Commission on Global Issues
(CGI)
"Looks beneath the Surface" in NJ neighborhoods and collaborates with
Catholic Charities to “Rescue and Restore” victims of this 21st century slavery.
International human trafficking is the global practice of transporting
persons from one country to another for purposes of sexual or economic
exploitation. Its power base is lies, false promises, and domination of
vulnerable and often poor human persons.
CGI collaborates with Catholic Charities in the Newark Archdiocese to
provide education about and action of behalf of women and girls who are
victims of international human trafficking. The Commission recently hosted a
workshop to expose the reality and the horror of trafficking in Essex County
and throughout our entire state. Approximately 25 members of the West Essex
Ministerial Group and members of local Catholic, Christian and Jewish faith
groups gathered in the Dominican Motherhouse in Caldwell for lunch and a
presentation by Sister Joann Marie Aumand, SCC. Sister Joann Marie is a
member of the Sisters of Christian Charity of Mendham, NJ and serves as
Program Manager for Catholic Charities Newark-based Office for Immigration,
Refugees and Human Trafficking.
Sister’s presentation included photos of some of the 51 women and children
who have been rescued through the Newark-based office and she shared some
individual stories of the victims’ experiences. Her PowerPoint presentation
exposing the facts and figures of the extent of this global evil evoked
strong emotional reactions and commitments to joint action by the assembled
ministerial teams to raise awareness and to curb
the practice of human
trafficking – especially within our local region.
“I didn’t know this was
going on right here in my town”
and
“This is criminal and needs to be
stopped NOW!”
were two loud comments that captured the spirit of new
awareness
and resolute commitment among the assembled ministers and
parishioners.
"Think Globally; Act Locally"
In a concrete action to aid trafficked persons and to raise awareness of
this evil present in our own backyards, CGI coordinated a local collection
of toiletries, towels, nightgowns and phone cards for the women and children
who have been rescued from local traffickers. Seniors from Mount Saint
Dominic Academy helped to sort and package the donated items.
The Dominican Commission on Global Issues has a long history of action in
the arena of international migration which includes the dual prong crisis of
immigration and human trafficking. Members of CGI - working with members of
the First Friends Organization - provide direct material assistance to
persons seeking political asylum in the US. These persons are warehoused in
Elizabeth, NJ in conditions that parallel maximum security prisons with
little or no access to personal privacy or family contact.
Now, joining
forces with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, the members of
Dominican CGI commit themselves to expand their work in the arena of
Migration by providing local education and promoting raised awareness of the
evil of international human trafficking in our state. Members of CGI and other concerned
persons are also offering personal assistance to trafficked women and
children by serving as tutors, mentors, companions.
For more information,
contact
dominicans@caldwellop.org
Commission on
Global Issues Acts against Human Trafficking