Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Bringing Christ's love to the world
Learn about the connection between the demand for pornography and human trafficking.
Dr. Mary Ane Layden and James Tarring Cordrey
For more information, please contact: brvheart@blueroutevineyard.com
Last week, the CAAC in partnership with LifeWay Network and St. Raymond’s High School for Boys began construction of the Cabrini Closet, NYC. The boys receive training on human trafficking and then they performed the service of transforming an open space into a beautiful boutique. In total, approximately 84 boys will participate in this program. The closet will provide fashionable young women’s clothing to those who very often have nothing after leaving their trafficked situation. After three sessions, the closet is on schedule to be open early May in the Grammercy Park area of Manhattan. More information on the location of the closet will be forthcoming in the near future.
This closet will certainly be a beautiful ministry, which will provide a much-needed service to those who are beginning a new life of freedom.
Any member of the Cabrinian Community who is interested in volunteering to help at the closet is invited to contact Melanie Paccillo at CabriniAandA@aol.com or Karol Brewer at cabriniformation@aol.com
Information for anyone wishing to donate clothing or gift cards will follow in the future Weekly Updates. We expect to be able to accept donations by May 1st. 
Every year the United Nations hosts the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), a two-week long event where people from around the world gather to discuss issues that impact women. This year, CMC Missioner and Cabrini Action and Advocacy Coalition representative Melanie Paccillo attended several auxiliary events relating to human trafficking.
Rachel Moran, founding member of Survivors of Prostitution – Abuse Calling for Enlightenment
One of these events discussed the issue of prostitution on an international level. On this panel were Rachel Moran, founding member of Survivors of Prostitution-Abuse Calling for Enlightenment,; Vendita Carter, founder and executive director of Breaking Free; Ingelborg Kraus, PhD, a German psychologist and trauma expert who founded a website discussing the link between prostitution and trauma; and Melissa Farley, Ph.D., founder and director of Prostitution Research and Education. Moderating the panel was Taina Bien-Aime, executive director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. There was discussion on the Nordic Model, which decriminalizes the selling of, but criminalizes the purchasing of sex. Thus, this law targets the demand. Doctor Kraus furthered the discussion by outlining the devastating impacts the legalization of prostitution has had in Germany. She noted that, with prostitution legalized, there are no support or healing services for those who have been exploited. Rachel Moran noted that the Nordic Model has been, “the only reasonable strategy for a millennium.”
When asked what the greatest barrier is to ending prostitution, Rachel Moran stated that it is the status quo. She said, “[you] think you can’t do anything, but everything you say out loud where people can hear you, no, that’s not okay, it’s another piece to this movement.” Dr. Farley added, “Prostitution is to society what incest is to the family.”
CSW is an exciting time, as men and women from all over the world come together to collaborate and find solutions to international problems. The panel discussions were enlightening and inspiring, bringing to mind the words Pope Leo XIII said to our foundress, “to work, Cabrini!”
In recent weeks in the Update we have been featuring a request from CAAC Chairperson Karol Brewer who has been seeking donations of stylish, up-to-date clothing for victims of human trafficking. These young women when they are able to find freedom, often escape, literally with only the clothing they are wearing.
As an integral part of their healing and rehabilitation, they will receive job training. In order to restore a sense of self-esteem and to be able to go on job interviews they need to be appropriately dressed.
An FBI agent shared the pressing need for attractive, up to date clothing. Hence, the “Cabrini Closet” that Karol has spearheaded at The Cottage in Radnor. The need will be on-going. Donations of “like-new” clothing in all sizes, and gift cards to such stores at Forever 21, Target, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx would be greatly appreciated.
Slavery exists, and together we must shine a light on this tragedy. That is the mission of End It Movement, an international coalition made up of the world’s leading anti-trafficking organizations. A21, ECPAT USA, Exodus Road, Not For Sale, International Justice Mission, and many others are partners in this group, which together work to create holistic solutions to this global issue.
On February 27th End It Movement held a social media based awareness-raising event they called, “Shine a Light on Slavery Day.” The coalition asked people to draw a red “X” on their hands, take a photo, and post it on social media using #enditmovement. The CAAC was proud to be a part of this event, which caused a stir on social media as well as with those who encountered participants. Several people asked CAAC members why they had an “X” on their hands, which created an opportunity to speak to people about human trafficking.
This was a simple, yet powerful way to raise awareness and create a global conversation about human trafficking. Together we will join hands until we will live in a world truly free from slavery.