As someone who has three granddaughters living in Wisconsin, I am concerned that our state is one of worst states in our country in terms of both sex and labor trafficking.
That information was shared at Catholics at the Capitol held in March. “Human trafficking is happening in counties all over Wisconsin. It happens everywhere, in rural and urban areas and online,” said keynote speaker Colleen Stratton, a survivor of human trafficking and member of the Eye Heart World Outreach Team.
January is observed as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It is an effort to raise awareness among businesses, national and community organizations, families, and all Americans to recognize the vital role we can play in ending all forms of slavery and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.
• “The Human Face of Trafficking: What Can We do? will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St. , Madison. This event is sponsored by the Madison Area Sinsinawa Dominicans Against Human Trafficking. To register, go to https://www.sinsnawa.org/news-events/antitrafficking-reg-form01-18.pdf Deadline for registration is January 5.
• “Protecting Our Children from Sex Trafficking: What Are the Signs” will be held on Sunday, Jan. 14, after the 10 a.m. Mass in the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish social hall in Madison. The program will begin with the showing of a 20-minute film, Chosen, followed by information from the Dane County sheriff and Madison Police Department personnel. This program is free and open to the public.
With the prevalence of human trafficking in our state, it is important to educate ourselves on this issue and do what we can to prevent it from happening.