Today, 8 February, the CNEWA family participates in the 10th International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, this year themed, “Journeying in Dignity: Listen, Dream, Act.”
“We are called to listen, dream and to act together. Joining in dignity is a call to listen to the suffering,” said Sister Abby Avelino, M.M., international coordinator of Talitha Kum and coordinator of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, during the online pilgrimage. “This day is an occasion to be united as people of faith and good will in joining in prayer, reflection and awareness regarding the scourge of human trafficking.”
Join CNEWA, religious communities and organizations and more than 50 participating countries online in this pilgrimage to end trafficking. Tune in here and follow along on our social media.
Pope Francis established the Day of Prayer in 2015 to coincide with the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, patron of trafficking survivors. As a child in her native Sudan, Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped and enslaved. She later was taken to Italy, where gaining her freedom she entered religious life. She was beatified in 1992 and canonized in 2000.
“Today, too, many brothers and sisters are deceived with false promises and are then subjected to exploitation and abuse. Let us all join to counter the dramatic global phenomenon of human trafficking,” said Pope Francis after his Angelus on Sunday, 4 February, in anticipation of the Day of Prayer and Awareness.
“Pray for the journey from the darkness of exploitation of trafficking to the light of hope of human dignity and freedom,” said Sister Abby.
Read more about the threat of human trafficking in the areas CNEWA serves and the agency’s programmatic support to prevent and respond to trafficking.
To support the agency’s work to combat human trafficking and protect the vulnerable, visit https://cnewa.org/what-we-do/you-can-stand-with-the-most-vulnerable/