Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. As defined under U.S. federal law, victims of human trafficking include children involved in the sex trade, adults age 18 or over who are coerced or deceived into commercial sex acts, and anyone forced into different forms of "labor or services," such as domestic workers held in a home, or farm-workers forced to labor against their will." - Polaris Project
The Faces of Human Trafficking video series
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration-founded Task Force to End Modern Slavery partnered with Breaking Free, one of the nation’s leading organizations for working with victims and survivors of sex trafficking, to create "The Faces of Human Trafficking" video series.
Hotlines
National Hotline: 888-373-7888 or text BeFree to 233733
La Crosse County District Attorney 608-785-9604
La Crosse Emergency Services 608-785-9634
City of La Crosse Police Department 608-785-5962
La Crosse Country Sheriff's Department 608-785-5942
Toolkits and Resources
Human Trafficking resources and toolkits
Sister Marlene Weisenbeck named person of the year
"For her extensive, unwavering efforts in the fight against human trafficking and decades of leadership in the community and beyond, she is the La Crosse Tribune’s 2019 Person of the Year."
Stop Trafficking!
Anti Human Trafficking Newsletter
Stop Trafficking Newsletter is produced monthly by Alliance to End Human Trafficking, formerly U.S. Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking, to serve as a forum for exchange among religious congregations and their collaborating organizations.
Read the latest issue
As members of Alliance to End Human Trafficking, FSPA is a co-sponsor of Stop Trafficking newsletter. Learn more about joining the Alliance at alliancetoendhumantrafficking.org.
UW-La Crosse student spreads awareness of human trafficking
Chantal Zimmerman, a feature reporter for University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's The Racquet, featured Sister Marlene and the task force's work to end modern slavery. “I always say this, memorize the national human sex trafficking hotline number, 1-888-373-7888, if you see something call that number,” Weisenbeck said. “First of all call 911 at home, at least get the police involved in what you think you are seeing even if you are not sure.” Read UWL student spreads awareness of human sex trafficking.
Human Trafficking Awareness
We invite you to add these daily suggestions:
- Light a candle and pray for a perpetrator.
- Take a survivor to dinner today; find out how you can help with personal needs.
- Find out who can provide pro bono legal assistance to survivors.
- Join a task force initiative and help in whatever ways are needed.
Get Involved
- The Human Thread - Catholics for Clothing with a Conscience
- 5-Stones: Fighting the Giant of Sex Trafficking