By John Singarayar
The story of St Josephine Bakhita, born in Sudan’s Darfur region in 1869, is one of unimaginable suffering transformed into radiant hope. The Church celebrates her feast on Feb 8.
Kidnapped at the age of nine, stripped of her name, and sold into slavery, Bakhita endured physical and psychological torment that would break most spirits. Yet, her eventual liberation both physical and spiritual after being taken to Italy in the late 19th century became a testament to resilience and divine love.
Baptized in 1890 and later taking vows as a Canossian Sister, Bakhita dedicated her life to serving others, embodying compassion in the face of cruelty. Canonized in 2000, she is now the patron saint of victims of human trafficking, a title that resonates with tragic urgency in our time.
Today, as the world grapples with the pervasive evil of modern slavery, Bakhita’s legacy is a clarion call to confront a crime Pope Francis has repeatedly denounced as a “crime against humanity.”
The scale of this crisis is staggering. According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 50 million people are trapped in modern slavery, a 25 percent increase since 2016. This includes 28 million in forced labor and 22 million in forced marriages, with women and children accounting for 54 percent of all victims.
The profits generated from this exploitation exceed US$236 billion annually, making it one of the most lucrative criminal enterprises in the world.
Modern slavery is not a monolithic crime but a hydra-headed menace manifesting in forced labor, sex trafficking, debt bondage, child exploitation, and forced marriages.
“The sex trafficking industry, fueled by global inequality and digital anonymity, thrives in plain sight”
In Qatar, the 2022 FIFA World Cup cast a harsh light on the exploitation of migrant workers, many of whom faced confiscated passports, withheld wages, and deadly working conditions. Despite reforms, advocacy groups like Amnesty International report ongoing abuses, with workers from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh still vulnerable to coercion.
In China’s Xinjiang region, over 1.8 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities have been subjected to state-sponsored forced labor, according to a 2023 United Nations report. Detained in “vocational training centers,” they are funneled into factories producing goods for global supply chains, including cotton, textiles, and solar panels. Major international brands, pressured by legislation like the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, now face scrutiny to eradicate complicity in these practices.
Africa remains a hot spot for child trafficking. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where armed groups exploit chaos from decades of conflict, children as young as seven are forced to mine cobalt, a mineral essential for smartphones and electric vehicles.
A 2023 investigation by The Guardian revealed that 35,000 children work in Congolese mines, often for less than $2 a day, facing injury, illness, and death. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, Boko Haram continues to abduct girls, subjecting them to sexual slavery under the guise of “marriage.”
The sex trafficking industry, fueled by global inequality and digital anonymity, thrives in plain sight. In Cambodia, brothels disguised as massage parlors exploit women and girls from rural communities, while in Europe, the Ukrainian refugee crisis has become a breeding ground for traffickers.
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, over 8 million Ukrainians have fled abroad, with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimating that one in five are at risk of trafficking. Criminal networks lure victims with promises of jobs, housing, or transport, only to force them into prostitution or labor.
Even affluent nations are not immune. In the United States, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported over 16,000 cases in 2022, with agricultural workers, domestic servants, and undocumented migrants particularly vulnerable. In Italy, the Mafia-controlled caporalato system exploits seasonal farm workers, many from Africa, who toil in tomato fields for €20 ($20.75) a day, enduring squalid living conditions and violence.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated vulnerabilities, pushing an additional 124 million people into extreme poverty and disrupting anti-trafficking efforts. Lockdowns isolated victims, while economic desperation drove families to sell children into labor or marriage.
“Traffickers use social media to recruit victims, often posing as romantic partners or job recruiters”
In South Asia, child marriages surged, with UNICEF reporting 10 million girls married in 2020 alone, many to alleviate financial burdens. In Brazil, where unemployment peaked at 14.7 percent in 2021, urban slums saw a rise in teens recruited by drug gangs for high-risk tasks like trafficking weapons.
Technology, meanwhile, has become a double-edged sword. Traffickers use social media to recruit victims, often posing as romantic partners or job recruiters. Cryptocurrencies facilitate anonymous transactions, while the dark web hosts illicit markets for child exploitation material.
Yet, technology also aids combat efforts: artificial intelligence analyzes migration patterns to identify trafficking routes, and blockchain tracks supply chains for ethical sourcing.
In the spirit of St Bakhita, faith-based organizations are at the forefront of the fight. The Catholic Church’s Talitha Kum network, active in 92 countries, has assisted over 45,000 survivors through shelters, legal aid, and education.
In 2021, Pope Francis launched the Global Prayer Network Against Human Trafficking, urging parishes worldwide to raise awareness. The Santa Marta Group, a coalition of law enforcement and bishops, has dismantled trafficking rings from Colombia to the Philippines.
Grassroots movements are equally vital. In India, the nonprofit Praxis works with tribal communities to rescue girls trafficked to urban brothels, while in Ghana, former child slaves like James Kofi Annan lead organizations rehabilitating fishing industry survivors.
Survivor-led advocacy is gaining momentum: in the U.S., activist Minh Dang, a former trafficking victim, lobbied for the 2022 reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, enhancing protections for minors.
Governments and corporations face mounting pressure to address systemic complicity. The European Union’s proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive would mandate companies to audit supply chains for human rights abuses — a move opposed by business lobbies citing cost burdens.
“Climate change, armed conflict, and widening inequality will likely push millions more into servitude”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over $1 billion in goods linked to forced labor in 2023, up from $500 million in 2020.
Consumer activism is also shifting markets. Apps like Good On You rate fashion brands on ethical practices, driving demand for transparency. The chocolate industry, long tainted by child labor in West Africa, has seen giants like Nestlé and Mars commit to 100 percent certified cocoa by 2025 though critics argue progress remains slow.
St Josephine Bakhita’s life reminds us that slavery is not inevitable. Her journey from bondage to sainthood underscores the power of solidarity and moral courage.
Yet, as the 2023 Global Slavery Index warns, current efforts are “woefully inadequate” to curb rising exploitation. Climate change, armed conflict, and widening inequality will likely push millions more into servitude.
To honor Bakhita’s legacy, we must confront uncomfortable truths: that our smartphones, clothes, and food may be tainted by suffering; and that indifference perpetuates cycles of abuse.
Pope Francis’s appeal for a “culture of encounter” demands more than awareness — it requires action. Supporting ethical brands, advocating for stronger laws, and listening to survivors’ voices are steps each person can take.
As the sun sets on another day, 50 million souls remain trapped in shadows. Their liberation, like Bakhita’s, hinges on our collective will to shine a light. – UCA News
*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.
