Day of Prayer and Awareness to End Human Trafficking on Feb. 8th

For the second time, the Archdiocese of New Orleans is calling on local Catholics and others to “fast from social media” to bring awareness to the issue of Human Trafficking. For just one day, on February 8 they are encouraging particpation with the phrase “don’t post, PRAY!.

The local day of Prayer and Awareness coincides with the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. It is also timed in advance of the Carnival season activities, a time when law enforcement notes an increase in human trafficking activities.

“Victims of human trafficking no longer have a say in their own lives,” says archdiocesan Respect Life Office Director Debbie Shinskie.  “They are essentially ‘silenced’ by their traffickers.  Our day of fasting from social media is an effort to be in solidarity with the silence of the victims.”    

All archdiocesan social media platforms will go silent on February 8, and several church parishes and archdiocesan agencies are joining in the effort to raise awareness of this important issue. The concept is that by not participating in social communications on February 8 and by letting family and friends know in advance why, #NOLACatholics can raise awareness of this important issue.

“Social media has become a place of incessant posting,” adds Shinskie. “Rather than be one more voice among the many advocating for awareness & justice, we are taking the opposite approach in suggesting that for 24 hours, we pray instead of posting on the very platform that predators often use for illicit activities.”

International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking: February 8

Archdiocese of New Orleans Communications, Resources and Social Media Toolkit 2017

Once again this year the archdiocesan Respect Life Office will sponsor a Day of Social Media Silence to bring awareness to the crime of Human Trafficking in our city, our country and in our world. On February 8, on the Feast Day of St. Joesphine Bahkita and in conjunction with the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, all social media accounts of the Archdiocese of New Orleans will go silent from 12 Midnight to 11:59 pm in “solidarity with those who are silenced” using the very tool that traffickers most often use to do their heinous business.  All parishes, schools and ministries of the archdiocese as well as all Catholics and members of the community are invited to join in this social media fast reminding ourselves for this one day, “don’t post, pray” for the victims, sellers and buyers involved in human trafficking.  

 For more information or with questions, please email Debbie Shinskie at [email protected].  

GRAPHICS: 

Profile picture: A profile picture for use in social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) is available below and the recommendation is to use this profile picture starting February 1 through the conclusion of the novena to pray for an end to human trafficking on February 17.

Additional graphics provided by the USCCB can be found here. 

VIDEOS:

The Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of New Orleans has developed a promo video to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking. Please link to this video through social media accounts or consider embedding this video on your ministry webpage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t9y8Ut01p8 

MESSAGING:

(For use February 1 through February 7)

Twitter:

• St. Josephine Bakhita was a survivor of #humantrafficking. In her honor we observe a Day of Prayer to #endtrafficking on her feast day 2/8
• On Feb. 8 we will observe a Day of social media silence as we pray for survivors of #humantrafficking #endtrafficking
• On Feb 8 “Don’t post; PRAY” to #endtrafficking. Learn more at http://respectlife.arch-no.org/human-trafficking

Facebook:

• St. Josephine Bakhita survived slavery, human trafficking, and persevered. Once she gained freedom by asserting her human dignity and refusing to be enslaved, Josephine became a Canossian sister. She dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. In her honor, we recognize today as a Day of #Prayer for victims of #humantrafficking and #slavery on her feast day, February 8. Learn more about the life and ministry of St. Josephine Bakhita at http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=680
• On February 8 “Don’t post; PRAY” to #endtrafficking. In solidarity with those who are silenced” through #humantrafficking, join us in a social media fast as we go silent on social media to remind ourselves to pray for the victims, sellers and buyers of human trafficking and for an end to this heinous crime. Learn more about the Catholic Church’s efforts to end human trafficking at http://respectlife.arch-no.org/human-trafficking
• Did you know? Buyers and sellers in #humantrafficking use social media and technology to make their illicit transactions? That’s just one reason we’re going silent on social media on February 8 to be in solidarity with the victims who are silenced and bring awareness to the issue so that we can #endtrafficking in our community and in our world. Learn more about the Catholic Church’s efforts to end human trafficking at http://respectlife.arch-no.org/human-trafficking
• Please be aware of the signs of #humantrafficking. If you see something, SAY SOMETHING! It is better to report a suspicious incident & be wrong than to be right & say nothing. Learn more at http://polarisproject.org/recognize-signs.