JRS is taking part in the 12th International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, dedicated to the theme “Peace begins with Dignity. A Global Call to End Human Trafficking”. Colleagues and friends from JRS IO and Centro Astalli/JRS Italy will join other organisations and people of goodwill from around the world during the week from 4 to 8 February, through coordinated events, moments of prayer, and awareness-raising initiatives taking place in Rome.

According to the United Nations, 27 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, most of them women, children, migrants, and people forced to flee their homes. As safe and legal pathways to protection continue to shrink, many countries are tightening border controls, limiting access to asylum procedures, and carrying out forced returns to regions affected by conflict, instability, or extreme poverty. In such conditions, people seeking safety and dignity often have no viable alternatives and become increasingly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

This reality underscores the need for comprehensive and humane approaches to migration governance: approaches that expand safe pathways, strengthen protection mechanisms, and place human dignity at the centre.

Established by Pope Francis in 2015, the World Day is observed every 8 February, on the feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese religious sister who has become a powerful symbol of the Church’s commitment to ending human trafficking. The initiative is coordinated by the international anti-trafficking network Talitha Kum, led by Religious Sisters and promoted by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the Union of Superiors General (USG), in collaboration with organisations worldwide, including JRS.

Hear from Nacho Eguizábal, JRS Deputy Director: