SSJs of Rochester Join Historic Movement to End Human Trafficking

Published July 14, 2011 12:55

S. Mary Lou 2 F Aces Of Z Eal

The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester joined 900 SSJs July 9-13 in St. Louis, Missouri to spearhead a campaign to prevent sex trafficking of children. The Sisters encouraged Millennium Hotels, a national hotel chain, where they gathered to sign a code of conduct as part of the campaign.

The Sisters were in St. Louis for Federation Event 2011, a three day meeting for SSJs from across the country. Sister Mary Louise Mitchell, (pictured with microphone above) Congregational president of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester, was one of the co-chairs of Federation Event 2011. The event is sponsored by The Federation of Sisters of Saint Joseph. The Federation is made up of American SSJ Congregations who claim a common origin in the foundation at LePuy, France in 1650.

Seized by the Zeal of Christ and in an atmosphere of prayer and reflection, Federation Event 2011 provided an opportunity for Sisters to come together to take action on serious issues in our world in need of healing. The Sisters chose to delve into the issue of human trafficking. While many call it a hidden crime, it exists in virtually every city and town in our country. Roman Catholic women religious have been key leaders in the national and international movement to stop human trafficking. During the Federation Event 2011, Sisters recognized The St. Louis Millennium Hotel as one of the many hotels working to create an ethical policy against commercial sexual exploitation of children, to train hotel staff to help identify human trafficking, and to partner with government and social service agencies. The Sisters of St. Joseph and others worked with the Millennium Hotel to sign a Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. The code, which was signed at a public ceremony at the hotel July 12, was developed by an international non government organization called End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking Children for Sexual Purposes, or ECPAT. The six-point code of conduct has been implemented by more than 240 tour operators, hotels, travel agents and others worldwide. Known as “The Code,” it calls participating companies to commit to establish an ethics policy regarding commercial exploitation of children, training personnel, introducing a clauses in contracts with suppliers stating repudiation of commercial sexploitation and providing information to travelers and local “key persons” at destinations. The code has received the support of many, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

For more details on the the “Code” please see these news articles written during the conference.

St. Louis Review

St. Louis Beacon

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