Statement by Thomas J. Egan
Director of Programs and Services
Catholic Social Service
Catholic Diocese of Phoenix

Everyday, Catholic Social Service battles the horrific effects of human trafficking.

We help these victims start anew through our Refugee and Immigration programs, our DIGNITY programs, which work with women who have been prostituted, and our PAST program, which works with Survivors of Torture.

Our expertise and experience with this problem has led us to work with the Arizona League to End Regional Trafficking (ALERT) and the Department of Health & Human Service (HHS).

We applaud HHS’s Rescue and Restore Program, which will be a great tool to identify and better serve the victims of human trafficking. The Rescue and Restore Program will assist Catholic Social Service in fulfilling our mission to affirm human dignity and develop just and caring communities.

We are committed to work with these programs to continue to educate ourselves and the community about these human right violations and to help the victims of this horrific crime so that we can put an end to modern slavery.