A growing movement is recognizing the perils of human trafficking and its wide reach throughout the world. "Trafficking for exploitation robs people of dignity. It is modern-day slavery and evokes the Old Testament situation of Moses seeing the condition of the people in slavery in Egypt and wanting to rescue them."

Sr. Suso Kottirikal served as boarding school hostel warden for 16 years, but she quit more than two decades ago to work with people who have Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, and their children. Unlike others who work with leprosy patients, the member of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ chooses to live with them, sharing her room with two patients.

This story appears in the Sustainable Development Goals Overview feature series. View the full series.

Leaders of the United Nations say the global body's ambitious agenda to eliminate global poverty and other ills is off to a good start but are reiterating the need for common efforts involving governments, non-governmental groups, business and others — including religious bodies in which Catholic sisters play a prominent role.