“Peace begins with dignity: A global call to end human trafficking” This is the theme chosen for the International Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking celebrated every year on 8 February on the feast day of Saint Bakhita, a Sudanese woman and nun who was a victim of trafficking and a universal symbol of the Church’s commitment to combating this phenomenon.
The theme draws inspiration from Pope Leo XIV’s powerful appeal, according to which true peace is gentle and humble, born of love and sustained where human dignity is guaranteed; it is not merely the absence of war. Where dignity is violated, peace is destroyed, and achieving a spirit of encounter is possible through the actions of each individual.
Testimony to this commitment are the young people and survivors of the global network against trafficking from all continents, who will arrive in Rome for this International Day. The group will join representatives of the organisations promoting the Day for five days of training and meetings, to be held in Rome but also in other parts of the world, with a central moment of prayer and reflection together with Pope Leo XIV, who has embraced the will of his predecessor.
It was Pope Francis who wanted to establish this Day in 2015, entrusting its promotion to the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) (UISG) e all’Union of Superiors General (USG) and its coordination to Talitha Km, the international anti-trafficking network that has more than 6,000 sisters, friends and partners around the world.
The Day is promoted in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for Communication, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, Caritas Internationalis, CoatNet, the Focolare Movement, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), the International Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO), the Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)- Anti-Trafficking Group (UISG/USG), The Clever Initiative, the Pope John XXIII Community Association, the International Catholic Action Forum, the Association of Italian Catholic Guides and Scouts (AGESCI), the Santa Marta Group, the Community of Sant’Egidio, USMI, and many other organisations around the world.
