By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai
THAILAND – Thailand hosted Catholic anti-trafficking leaders from 23 countries this week as the Talitha Kum network promoted education, grassroots leadership, and international cooperation to combat human trafficking and modern exploitation.
The 6th International Edition of the Talitha Kum Leadership Training Course gathered 30 participants from 23 countries at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Training Center in Samphran, west of Bangkok, from Jun 24–30.
Named after the Gospel phrase Talitha Kum (“Little girl, I say to you, arise”), the global network seeks to prevent human trafficking, protect survivors, and address the systemic conditions that make people vulnerable to exploitation.
According to the latest estimates, about 49.6 million people worldwide are living in modern slavery, including 27.6 million in forced labor and 22 million in forced marriage.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that the number of detected trafficking victims in 2022 was 25% higher than in 2019, with child victims increasing by 31%. Women and girls accounted for 71% of identified victims.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that forced labor generates about US$236 billion in illegal profits each year, with forced sexual exploitation accounting for US$173.2 billion, or nearly three-quarters of the total.
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