Sister Rita Jovick Reports on Anti-Trafficking Conference

In September, the U.S. Sisters Against Human Trafficking gathered in Chicago for their annual conference. Sister Rita Jovick attended as the representative of the San Francisco Presentation Sisters. A member of the congregation’s Justice Committee, Sister Rita has a long-standing commitment to ending human trafficking. She works with others, including the San Francisco Coalition Against Human Trafficking, to advocate for victims and create public awareness.

This year’s conference was again filled with information and updates on the current landscape of human trafficking in the country. Though challenged to summarize it briefly, she notes these as important take-aways:

• Legitimate businesses may profit from trafficking unknowingly. An example of this would be a hotel that subcontracts for laundry or catering services. Since the hotel is paying the subcontractor who then hires employees, the hotel managers and owners do not know how employees are treated or compensated.
• More wage and hour inspectors are needed to end labor trafficking.
• Trafficked children are forced to work in unsafe conditions, sell drugs, use weapons and panhandle while receiving little or no pay.
• Those raping children are youth leaders, church leaders, community leaders, family members and friends – individuals in children’s social network, not strangers.
• More immigration lawyers are needed to aid the vulnerable population who are fleeing countries and are desperate for food, clothing and shelter for themselves and their families.

Sister Therese Randolph, RSM (left) and Sister Rita Jovick, PBVM in Chicago

This conference marked the tenth anniversary of the founding of the group, which was started by 15 Sisters in 2013. This year 140 members, representing 120 congregations of women religious and 24 collaborators, attended. “It was hopeful to learn that, as the numbers of collaborators have increased, the group will now be called the Alliance to End Human Trafficking. Members are encouraged to work with other religious and civic groups to end the grave injustice of human trafficking,” said Sister Rita.

The Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco, are also supporters Safehouse, a refuge for trafficked women in the city founded by Sister Rosina Conrotto and Rev. Glenda Hope in 1998. Learn more about the Sisters’ ministry in this area on our website, presentationsisterssf.org/human-trafficking.