Join Global Pilgrimage

“We’ll do anything we can to get things as cheaply as we can. For that to happen someone has to be exploited.” (Colleen Jackson rsc, Talitha Kum – Oceania representative) Join ACRATH and thousands around the world on February 8 for an online pilgrimage celebrating the 2023 International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human…

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Poverty Drives Child Labour

In a message sent to Guy Ryder, director-general of the International Labor Organization (ILO), on the occasion of the fifth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor held May 15-20 in Durban, South Africa, Pope Francis said poverty and inequality, which are major factors in child labor exploitation, must be addressed. “While significant progress…

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Prayer to End Pandemic

Pope Francis has initiated a marathon of prayer to ask for an end to the Coronavirus pandemic. Vulnerability to human trafficking has increased during the pandemic. To participate in this initiative, Talitha Kum, the International Network of Consecrated Life Against Trafficking in Persons, invites us to join in prayer for individuals and families struggling with…

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Pray to End Human Trafficking

You are invited to prepare for the World Day of Prayer Reflection and Action Against Human Trafficking on 8th February, the feast of St Josephine Bakhita, by following the suggestions outlined in a prayer calendar prepare by the Sisters of St Joseph of Orange. St. Josephine Bakhita was born in southern Sudan in 1869. As…

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Hope for a Dignified Life

Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi message to the world on Christmas day acknowledged the darkness of injustice in our world and prayed that the Babe of Bethlehem  “may he bring his tenderness to all and brighten the darkness of this world.” “May the Son of God, come down to earth from heaven, protect and sustain…

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Human Trafficking Commercializes the Other

Speaking at a  Vatican conference that examined the implementation of the Pastoral Orientations on Human Trafficking on 11th April, Pope Francis described human trafficking as a most dramatic manifestation of commercializing the other. “Those who are guilty of this crime damage not only others, but also themselves. Indeed, each one of us is created to…

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Pastoral Orientation on Human Trafficking

Pastoral Orientations on Human Trafficking is a new document produced by the Migrant and Refugee office of the Vatican. The Orientations are for use by Catholic dioceses, parishes and religious congregations, schools and universities, by Catholic and other organizations of civil society and by any groups willing to respond. Pope Francis’s insistent teaching on HT provides the foundation for the present…

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Denounce the Injustice of this Shameful Crime

Pope Francis continues to speak out against the plague of human trafficking. During his Angelus message the day prior to the International Day Against Trafficking in Persons he said: “Dear brothers and sisters, tomorrow is the UN-sponsored World Day against Trafficking in Persons. This plague reduces many men, women and children to slavery for the…

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April Action to Eliminate Human Trafficking

ACRATH Calendar and Prayer Reflection for April During the month of April the ACRATH Calendar invites us to reflect on the face of human trafficking and slavery in Australia. While we are in the season of Easter the ACRATH prayer brochure encourages us to consider the words of Pope France: “It is not possible to…

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Santa Marta Group Meets

Church and Law Enforcement Collaborate The Santa Marta Group is an alliance of international police chiefs and bishops from around the world working together with civil society in a process endorsed by Pope Francis, to eradicate human trafficking and modern day slavery. The fifth international Santa Marta conference took place at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences from 8…

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Santa Marta Group Meets

Church Leaders and Police Chiefs Working to Combat Human Trafficking Established in 2014, the Santa Marta Group recently held a two day conference in the Vatican. Representatives from thirty countries participated in the conference. In addressing the conference delegates, Pope Francis lamented “The number of these victims – international organisations say – grows, unfortunately, every year. They…

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