8 February: St. Bakhita's Day
St. Bakhita has become the patron saint of victims and survivors of human trafficking. Every year since 2015, we pray on the day of her feast day, February 8, and in the light of her life experience, we pray for all those enslaved in the entire world. Saint Bakhita’s biographie tells us that she was born in Sudan. At the age of six or seven, she was abducted by slave hunters and sold five times in different markets over the following eight years.
She was eventually sold to an Italian businessman, and after further twists and turns, an Italian court finally recognised that the slave trade in Sudan had been outlawed before she was born, meaning that she could no longer be considered a slave. She was free to make her own decisions about her life, was baptised, and joined the congregation of the Kanosian Sisters.
Commitment of the CJ against Human Trafficking
Our congregation and many collaborators in various countries all over the world are actively fighting to end human trafficking and supporting victims and survivors.
There are different forms of human trafficking. The main forms being:
Sexual exploitation
Forced labour
- Domestic servitude
- Child soldiers
How we are helping:
We carry out targeted operations to rescue trafficking victims, ensure their safety, and connect them with essential support services.
We operate safe and secure shelters for individuals escaping exploitation, ensuring they receive care and support during their recovery.
We provide compassionate mental health services to help survivors heal from trauma, fostering resilience and promoting emotional well-being.
We offer expert legal guidance to human trafficking survivors, so that they can understand their rights and seek justice against their traffickers.
