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Fighting the evil of human trafficking Working against the trafficking of American women and girls is one of the hundreds of ways in which Medical Mission Sisters around the world try to be a healing presence to those in need today. "I approach trafficking of women for sexual exploitation as only one manifestation of violence against women in society," says Sister Teresita Hinnegan. A native of Philadelphia, PA, she is developing the only program in the city with the sole mission of assisting sexually exploited women who want to leave the streets. She soon will open a center to provide housing and individualized services for these women. Long familiar with the relationship between poverty and violence, Sister Teresita thinks that today there is a greater awareness about violence against women, especially international trafficking of non-American women. "However, domestic trafficking of American women and girls in our large cities is also a problem-but is hidden because they are identified as prostitutes who want to earn a living on the streets," she says. "Many prostitutes in the United States are domestically trafficked and get caught up in a cycle of arrest, fines, prison, and back to the streets," she adds. Sister Teresita is working in collaboration with others to develop a program to assist domestically trafficked women forced to work in the commercial sex trade. In addition, she gives presentations on the public health ramifications of human trafficking to audiences that include students, church groups, healthcare providers, and other interested groups. She also represents our Community at the United Nations' annual meeting of the Committee on the Status of Women. After years of mission in Bangladesh, Sister Teresita became well known in the Philadelphia area as a local and state advocate on maternal/child health issues. A nurse-midwife with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Social Work, she was a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Nursing for 22 years. She has served on many local, state, and national task forces and committees. Sister Teresita believes that one way to counter the acceptance of violence against women is to address it in schools. "I would like to see the curriculum in every Catholic school, beginning in the elementary grades and continuing through high school, deal with gender violence, including causes, prevention, and solutions," she says.
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