People Against Trafficking Humans (PATH), a coalition of local advocates, including women religious, will hold a public prayer service for victims of human trafficking at Jefferson Square Park at Sixth and Jefferson streets in downtown Louisville on May 2 at 4:30 p.m.
The service is scheduled for the week of the Kentucky Derby, which is May 6, to raise awareness about trafficking, which is in greater demand during major events, according to organizers.
“Since 2008, Kentucky has identified 692 victims of human trafficking with 81% of these cases in sex trafficking and 13% in labor trafficking with the rest either unknown or including both,” said Sister Joetta Venneman in a news release about the prayer service. “Thus, the need to become more aware of labor trafficking.
“Exploitation of another human person is never right in any type of trafficking,” said Sister Venneman, a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and director of the Office of Global Ministries for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. “Our needs must be met with increased awareness of all types of trafficking that includes the examination of socio-cultural norms, values and behaviors that are used to rationalize conscious and unconscious harm to others.”
The event’s speaker will be Amy Leenerts, who will invite individuals and businesses to oppose trafficking through her organization, Free2Hope. All are welcome.
