Anti-Trafficking Program

Human Trafficking

USCCB/MRS is combating modern-day slavery, one community at a time.

St. Josephine Bakhita

Media Coverage and Reports

"Pope encourages church, police in shared battle against trafficking" Catholic News Service, February 2018
"Catholic consumers favor slave-free seafood label" - International Catholic Migration Commission, February 2018
The Typology of Modern Slavery - Polaris, March 2017

Who We Are

The mission of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Anti-Trafficking Program (ATP) is to educate on the scourge of human trafficking as an offense against fundamental dignity of the human person, to advocate for an end to modern day slavery, to provide training and technical assistance on this issue, and to support survivors through community based services.

What We Do

Each year, an estimated 17,000 vulnerable men, women and children are trafficked across our borders and then forced into slavery. Many are fleeing terrible situations in their home countries, and come to the United States to find a better life. Unfortunately, the nightmare often begins when they reach our shores.

For over a decade, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been a national leader in advocacy and education to eradicate sex and labor trafficking. Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) leads efforts to combat trafficking in human persons, carrying out the commitment of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Migration to protect the life and dignity of the most vulnerable. Our initiatives include advocacy, awareness raising, training and technical assistance, and integration services.