Rome (Italy). On 8 February 2025, on the liturgical memory of Saint Josephine Bakhita – a woman and Sister from Sudan who was a child victim of trafficking and, canonized in 2000, has become a universal symbol of the Church’s commitment against slavery – the 11th World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking is being celebrated.
“Ambassadors of hope. Together against human trafficking” is the theme chosen, in continuity with the ongoing Jubilee, which highlights hope through concrete actions, addressing global issues such as the terrible reality of human trafficking, following the invitation of Pope Francis “to be pilgrims of peace and apostles of hope”.
It was Pope Francis who wanted to establish this Day in 2015, entrusting its promotion to the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the Union of Superiors General (USG) and coordination to Talitha Kum, the international anti-trafficking network which counts more than 6000 Sisters, friends, and partners all over the world, including the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, which has been part of it since its inception in 2009, and contributes to it by participating in the International Commission, through the exchange of information and in-depth reflections.
Data on Trafficking
According to the UN, an estimated 50 million people are victims of human trafficking worldwide. Those who suffer the most are women, children, migrants, and refugees. One in three victims is a child, while 79% of the victims of sexual exploitation worldwide are women and girls. Some 120 million people are forced to migrate. Wars, conflicts, violence, poverty, environmental disasters lead them to abandon their homes, making them particularly vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation because of the dangerous routes and because traffickers or the black market are often used to move from one country to another. To this is added another form of trafficking which is the exploitation online.
Testimonies of hope
A testimony of hope is constituted by the young people of the global network against trafficking coming from all the continents who have come to Rome for this International Day. The group joined representatives of the organizations that promoted the Day for a week of formation and meetings, with a central moment of prayer and reflection together with Pope Francis.
The week’s initiatives
Sunday 2 February the representatives met in St. Peter’s Square to participate in the Angelus together with Pope Francis.
Sister Wismary Kharbihkhiew, collaborator of the Youth Ministry Sector of the FMA Institute, actively participated in the event. The day began with the celebration of the Holy Mass at Holy Spirit Church in Sassia – Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy. The participants then walked in procession to St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus. Each participant carried signs with slogans to call for an end to human trafficking and promote love, respect, and justice. Sister Abby Avelino, international coordinator of Talitha Kum was present.
On 3 February, the youth delegation experienced a pilgrimage through three Holy Doors of the Jubilee, using the App Walking in Dignity.
On 4 February at 16:30 there will be a flash-mob against trafficking in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere and then, at 17:30, in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, an ecumenical prayer vigil will be held in English and Italian. (Texts of the Vigil)
On 6 February, in the afternoon from 16:00 to 19:00, at the Pontifical University of Santa Croce in Rome, the event will take place, “Appeal to hope and healing” with the testimonies of some survivors of trafficking, young people, activists, and the performance of artists such as the band Gen Verde.
On 7 February Pope Francis will meet the delegation of young ambassadors, survivors, representatives of the network of organizations promoting the Day.
From 11:30 to 16:30, an online pilgrimage will cross all continents: from Oceania, to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, South America, and finally North America. The event will be broadcast live in 5 languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian) on the Youtube Channel.
On 8 February, World Day of Prayer against Trafficking, the young ambassadors will gather for a day of dialogue and work that culminates with the launch of the new call to global action against trafficking, which will become a new tool for awareness raising and mobilization to be used around the world.
“In the light of the Jubilee of the Church, as pilgrims of hope, we invite everyone to act against trafficking in persons. To combat this modern slavery, we must join our efforts and work together with the victims and survivors to address its root causes. Keeping hope in the face of exploitation and injustice is a challenge, but we must persevere with determination to build a world of peace, justice, and dignity for all,” said Sister Abby Avelino, coordinator of the Day.
The organisers invite, on 7 and 8 February, to dedicate and share a post on social media using the official hashtags #PrayAgainstTrafficking e #iubilaeum2025.
On the Website www.preghieracontrotratta.org you can find all the resources to follow the event, video-testimonials and photo gallery.
