Events are being planned nationwide to recognize Jan. 11 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. An estimated 27 million people are trafficked globally on an annual basis, the largest percentage being women and children. Human trafficking is growing in the crime industry, second in scope only to the drug trade and equal to arms.  Revenue from human trafficking is estimated at more than $32 billion annually. 

Nationwide events will range from a Walk 4 Freedom in Los Angles to a rally for awareness at the New Jersey State House in Trenton. The United States bishops’ conference will also be distributing awareness materials to parishes prior to Jan. 11 and has set aside Feb. 8 as a national day of prayer for survivors and victims of human trafficking.

In an address to 17 new Vatican ambassadors on Dec. 12, Pope Francis called human trafficking “a crime against humanity and must be stopped.”

What event does your church, organization, or community have planned to bring awareness to human trafficking on Jan. 11? To add to the list, email cdunne@ncronline.org or leave a comment below. Events listed are on Jan. 11 unless otherwise noted.

California

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Los Angeles, Walk 4 Freedom – 9 a.m., St. Basil Church

Massachusetts

Cambridge, Prayer Vigil – 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Chapel of the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse, 637 Cambridge St.

Nebraska

Omaha, reflection and prayer sponsored by U.S. Catholic Sisters against Human Trafficking – 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., St. Pius X, 6905 Blodo St.

New Jersey

Morristown, Sex and Money: A National Search for Human Worth sponsored by Junior League of Morristown, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Malcolm Forbes Amphitheater

Trenton, Awareness Day Rally – 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., New Jersey Statehouse

[Colleen Dunne is an NCR Bertelsen intern. Her email address is cdunne@ncronline.org or follow on twitter @coldun14.]