The Role of the Faith Community and Combating Human Trafficking

As the conversation around the global crisis of human trafficking has made its way into churches over recent years, many faith leaders and congregants wonder what it looks like in their communities and are perplexed by the question, “What can I do?” This session highlights research findings, education platforms, prevention tools, policy solutions, public-private engagement, and most importantly, survivor perspectives. Religious leaders attending can better understand vulnerabilities and signs, and the impact of sexual abuse and pornography on individuals and families, online child exploitation, and sex trafficking. It is critical that these issues and potential solutions not be addressed as though they are separate problems, but rather, we must recognize they overlap and reinforce each other. A holistic approach that includes community advocacy while addressing these connections is necessary.