The theme of the eighth International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Trafficking in Persons is

"The Power of Care - Women, Economics, Human Trafficking".

8 February is the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese nun, who as a child had the traumatic experience of being a victim of human trafficking. The Unions of Superiors and Superiors General of Religious Institutes have organized the Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking.

According to the United Nations statistics on trafficking in persons (2020 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons) women and girls represent 72% of identified victims of trafficking and the percentage of women and girls increases significantly in the context of trafficking for sexual exploitation; a market that represents 2/3 of the profits generated by exploitation.

With the pandemic, the society and institutions have rediscovered the value of caring for people as a pillar of security and social cohesion and the commitment to care for the common space in order to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation, which mainly affects the poorer. The power of care is the only way to tackle human trafficking and all forms of exploitation.

Visit PREGHIERACONTROTRATTA.ORG for more information.

 

Pope Francis' Prayer for International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Trafficking in Persons:

Click here to download the prayer.