Rome (Italy). On 8 February 2025, the liturgical memorial of Saint Josephine Bakhita – a woman and nun from Sudan who as a child was a victim of human trafficking and who, canonized in 2000, has become a universal symbol of the Church’s commitment against slavery – the 12th World Day of Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking will be celebrated.
The Day, established by Pope Francis in 2015, is promoted by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the Union of Superiors General (USG) and is coordinated by the international anti-trafficking network Talitha Kum – which includes more than 6,000 nuns, friends and partners worldwide, including the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, which has been a part of it since its inception in 2009 – in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for Communication, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and numerous other organizations at the global level.
“Peace begins with dignity: a global appeal to end human trafficking” is the theme of the 2026 edition, inspired by the powerful message of Pope Leo XIV, who stated that true peace is gentle and humble, born of love and sustained wherever human dignity is upheld. The exploitation and objectification of people through trafficking undermine the foundations of peace and justice, making its elimination essential for building a just world. Human trafficking is a global wound that denies human dignity and shatters peace in communities everywhere.
According to United Nations data, there are approximately 27 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, predominantly women, children, migrants, and displaced persons, who suffer exploitation in many forms, from forced labor to sexual exploitation, from servitude to forced marriage. The United Nations Office the organization dealing with this issue indicates that women and girls constitute 65% of the identified victims, while almost a third are children. The vulnerability of these groups increases in situations of war, poverty, and displacement. Migrants and displaced persons are even more at risk.
On the occasion of the Day, from February 4th to 8th, international participants – religious leaders, survivors, young people, civil society partners and supporters – will take part in a series of training and awareness-raising meetings that will culminate with participation in the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.
The events in Rome and in the world
The program opens on 4 February with an online training event led by young people, highlighting their leadership and innovative approach in mobilizing against human trafficking. Meanwhile, the international delegates who have already arrived in Rome will participate in the general audience.
On 5 February, the opening ceremony will take place at the UISG headquarters in Rome, followed by the “Walk for Humanity” led by young people. At 5:30 PM, a candlelight procession and ecumenical prayer vigil will be held in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, with the participation of Cardinal Fabio Baggio, Under-Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
On 6 February, an online pilgrimage against human trafficking will take place, uniting participants in a global prayer journey, from Oceania to Asia, from the Middle East to Africa, from Europe to the Americas. A message from the Holy Father is expected during the central part of the event. The pilgrimage will be live-streamed from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (CET) in five languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian) on the website preghieracontrotratta.org
On 7 February, Youth Day will begin with a training workshop in the morning, led by Professor Silvia Scarpa, Head of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs and Professor of International Relations at John Cabot University, followed in the afternoon by awareness-raising activities against human trafficking in Piazza Pia.
On Sunday, 8 February, join us in St. Peter’s Square for the Angelus prayer with Pope Leo XIV, followed by the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Cardinal Vincent Nichols and concelebrated by Father Mario Zanotti, OSB, Secretary General of the USG, in the Choir Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica at 1:00 PM.
The informational material and the text of the prayer vigil are available for download from the website preghieracontrotratta.org The organizers also invite everyone to participate in the mobilization through social media, by sharing a post on February 8th with the official hashtag #PrayAgainstTrafficking.
