migration & modern slavery

Sister Michelle Loisel, D.C.

"I was a nurse for many years, serving in the Middle East, Africa, India, and Haiti, as well as in other war-torn countries. The past seven years, I have served as Executive Director of Dawn’s Place, a safe, residential, and holistic program for American and International women who have been victims of sex trafficking.

Even before working there, I have been an advocate for issues affecting the safety and wellbeing of women and children."

About the logo The person who has been
victimized or abused cannot escape from the
situation without dealing with traumas in her or
his life. This “stain” will stay forever in the life of
the person who suffered. It is symbolized by the
color purple in the chain of the logo and the
color purple in the logo butterfly—the butterfly
takes the “purple” onto itself as it breaks
through the chain.

“Is not this the kind of fast I choose: to loose
the chains of injustice and untie the cords of
the yoke, to set the oppressed free?” Isaiah 58:6

Raising awareness of modern slavery

Providing Safe Haven

In April 2012, the Daughters of Charity in the United States and Canada—in keeping with our conviction regarding the dignity of each person—adopted a united stand in support of human rights and in opposition to human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and forced labor.

Human trafficking does not stand alone. Rather, it stands within our worldwide culture. It is not something that can be fought, beaten back, or eradicated simply; it is too greatly embedded into our global culture. It is something that will end only as we transform our world into a world of justice using legal and social actions, forming public policies, and advocating on behalf of modern slaves. All have a responsibility to take part both actively and in our passive habits of consumerism and social liberalism.

As a business, human trafficking has the same driving factors as any other business: supply and demand. Countries of destination are predominately representing the demand side while countries of origin are the supply. In essence, a supply translates to a group of vulnerable people. The most vulnerable people groups in our world today would arguably be refugees, migrants, and displaced persons.

Fully aware changes must be made, and, in response to the plight of the migrant and modern slave, the Daughters created a new position within the Province of St. Louise—Coordinator of Provincial Response to Migrants and Issues of Modern Human Slavery. Sister Michelle Loisel, D.C., was the first Sister appointed this position. A nurse, and former director of a safe residential and holistic program for women who were victims of sex trafficking, Sister Michelle understands the extreme difficulties of the migrant and the trafficked.

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