St. Bakhita inspires fight against modern slavery, human trafficking in Africa

Holy Masses, prayers, meetings with community leaders and elders, as well as awareness campaigns to educate the public about the challenges of human trafficking took place on February 8th in over 30 African countries.

It’s an initiative of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) that seeks to draw global attention to the shameful reality of human trafficking that has blunted the lives of millions of people, particularly in Africa, where poverty, lack of opportunity, bad governance as well as ignorance have all conspired to force millions on perilous journeys in the search for a better future.

“Human trafficking remains a significant issue across Africa, affecting millions of individuals through various forms of exploitation,” said Sr Leonida Katunge, Director of Programs for the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network who is coordinating the campaign.

According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 6.04 million people are living in modern slavery in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 12% of the global enslaved population. When considering the entire continent, this number rises to approximately 7 million individuals, representing 14% of the worldwide total population

“Children are particularly vulnerable, especially in West Africa, where they constitute more than 75% of detected trafficking victims. These children are often subjected to forced labor, sexual exploitation, and recruitment as child soldiers,” the Member of The Sisters of St. Joseph Mombasa Kenya told CWR.

She said the forms of exploitation vary by region. In Southern Africa, 48% of trafficking victims experience sexual exploitation, while 43% are subjected to forced labor. In contrast, East Africa reports a higher prevalence of forced labor, accounting for 80% of cases, with sexual exploitation comprising 13%.

Countries such as Eritrea and Burundi have been identified as having the highest rates of human trafficking within the continent; it’s an issue that spans across Africa.

Voices of victims

The stories of the victims are mind-boggling. With quivering lips and fighting back stubborn tears, Claudine (not her real name) tells CWR about the pain and anguish she went through in the Middle Eastern country of Kuwait.

The nurse, 34, was deceived by middle men who told her she could get a good job that would pay her as high as $500 in Kuwait—a far cry for the typical nurse in Cameroon who doesn’t earn above $200.

“The agent even offered to foot my travel expenses,” she told CWR.

“When I got on that flight for Kuwait in 2013, I knew I was flying into wealth and success,” she said with a wan and ashy smile.

It turned out to be an illusion. On arrival in Kuwait, Claudine’s passport was taken by an agent, and she and about fifty other Cameroonian girls were channeled to a small room.

“There were many other girls from other nationalities,” she recalls. It was then she realized she was effectively on the market-to be sold like a commodity.

“Bidders came. They negotiated prices, and we were sold off.”

She said she was bought by an Egyptian man to work as a house help, but she saw “hell” in that house. With very little to eat, Claudine would work from dawn to dusk, sleeping on the bare floor, and frequently raped by her master.

“I shared the same toilet with cats and dogs. I used to call them my brothers, because they were the only beings I felt safe with,” she said, the tears flowing freely.

“Our children are bought and sold like commodities on the market,” said Beatrice Titanji, National Vice-President of the Trauma Centre for Victims of Human Trafficking in Cameroon.

Migration and trafficking: two sides of the same coin

Regional and country-specific realities of migration and trafficking could help in better elucidating the scale of the problem.

Fr. Albert Kondemodre, PACTPAN regional representative for northern Africa, told CWR that countries of the Maghreb have become hotspots for migration with thousands of people from sub-Saharan Africa as well as The Horn of Africa flooding those countries, mostly on transit to Europe.

“The journey of these migrants is marked by long, arduous and risky journeys,” Kondemodre told CWR. They “are undocumented or have falsified documents. Once they arrive, they face enormous difficulties: housing, care, integration, jobs, food, identity regularization,” he said.

In Lesotho, Sister Blandina, PACTPAN Representative of the Southern African Region describes trafficking in persons as “a major disaster.”

She told CWR that the country’s “porous borders with South Africa, coupled with the growing socio-economic challenges, make it an ideal destination and transit point for traffickers seeking to exploit vulnerable people.”

“In Lesotho, human trafficking is primarily driven by poverty, lack of education, use of technology especially social media, inadequate protection, gender inequality and limited employment opportunities. The persistent high levels of unemployment and economic instability have left many Basotho individuals, especially women and children, at risk of exploitation. Traffickers often prey on these vulnerabilities by offering false promises of employment or better living conditions in neighboring South Africa,” Blandina told CWR.

Fr. Onuh Ladi Sixtus PhD describes his homeland Nigeria as “the hub of this criminal activity in the West African subregion.”

“There have been a lot of arrests being carried out by the relevant government agencies in Nigeria; however, this has not eradicated the evil of human trafficking. People have become victims of this evil without their consent and in most cases the victims are women and girls and children,“ he told CWR.

“The cartels who perpetrate this syndicate usually promise their victims a rosy life in Europe and other destinations. However, experience has shown that most of them end up languishing in jails in Lybia, Tunisia and other prisons. Some get drowned at the high sea.”

“Victims of human trafficking have mostly ended up as sex slaves, child labor, drug peddlers and the like. Human trafficking is modern day slavery,” he said.

Fr. Albert Kondemodre, PACTPAN regional representative for northern Africa said the Church, in line with Catholic Social Teaching, works to give migrants and victims of trafficking respite.

“In the face of all these difficulties, the churches in North Africa are not standing on the sidelines. Through their various programmes, they are following and applying the four verbs of Pope Francis: welcome, protect, promote, and integrate. In addition, they listen to, accompany, meet, visit and follow all the migrants who knock on their doors,” he said.

“All strata of society need to join forces and unite by getting their hands dirty in a spirit of open collaboration, with an objective to give a glimmer of hope to our young brothers and sisters whose dignity is being trampled upon. We must all combine our efforts and pool our resources to halt this migratory haemorrhage at its source,” he said.

Campaign to combat human trafficking

The PACTPAN campaign to combat human trafficking in Africa is a critical part of the larger strategy of the Church. And it is by design that the campaign took place on the feast day of St.Josephine Bakhita who was a slave in Europe, and she ended up becoming a nun and eventually a saint.

“The campaign is not for one day but will run all through 2025-2030,” said Sr. Leonida Katunge, PACTPAN’s Director of Programs and coordinator of the February 8 campaign.

“We have a target of five years that we are planning to have this campaign run in Africa and see how best we can end this plight against the abuse of human rights,” she told CWR.

“We are operating as an army composed of five blocks in the continent. Northern Africa, Southern Africa, Central Africa, Western Africa, and Eastern Africa. Each of these armies has a leadership which is overseeing the success of the event as well as the events that will follow after the 8th February,” she told CWR.

She said the campaign brings together representatives from SECAM, PACTPAN, some survivors, and representatives of the various countries who will be sharing the efforts they have put and are planning to put in place to end trafficking in human beings.

“These combined efforts aim to raise awareness, educate communities, and foster collaboration among various stakeholders to combat human trafficking across Africa.”

The Catholic Church, under the leadership of Pope Francis and through organizations like Talitha Kum and PACTPAN, plays a vital role in combating human trafficking. The Church raises awareness, advocates for policy changes, provides direct support to victims, and mobilizes communities for action, according to Katuge.

Pope Francis has been a staunch advocate against human trafficking, calling it a ‘crime against humanity.’ He frequently condemns trafficking in his speeches and official documents, urging world leaders to act and fostering collaborations between religious groups, governments, and NGOs. He also established the World Day of Prayer Against Human Trafficking on February 8 (Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita) as a global day for prayer and action.

Talitha Kum, a Vatican-supported global network of Catholic sisters operating in 92 countries, fights human trafficking through prevention and education. They train communities, schools, and religious leaders to recognize trafficking signs. They also rescue and rehabilitate survivors by providing shelter, legal aid, and psychological support.

PACTPAN tackles social justice issues through research and advocacy. They mobilize local churches by engaging bishops, priests, youth activists, survivors of trafficking, and laypeople in African countries to combat trafficking.

“The 8th February 2025 is the first Public Awareness Campaign hosting events on St. Bakhita’s Day (Feb 8) to educate communities,” Sr.Katunge told CWR.

She said the event will provide an opportunity to launch a documentary the organization produced in 2024 based on research with survivors of human trafficking from various countries in Africa.

Titled “If Silence Was to Speak: Unveiling the Hidden Wounds of Trafficking of Girls in Africa 2025,” the documentary sheds light on the dark realities of human trafficking, and offers pathways to healing and hope for the victims.

“This is one of our notable initiatives, as we hope this project will help to raise awareness and advocate against the trafficking of girls, shedding light on this critical issue within the Church and broader society,” said Sr.Katuge.

She said the campaign aims is to reintegrate the many men and women who, due to human trafficking, have been ridiculed by their families and society.

She challenged African governments to take the lead in ending “this heinous crime” and advocate for a free society where every citizen is cared for.

“All human beings regardless of their color, sex, age, nationality, religion are created in the image and likeness of God. This calls us to respect each person without reservations, “she said.

“Ending human trafficking in Africa requires collective effort. PACTPAN urges the public to recognize the inherent dignity of every individual and to take an active role in preventing exploitation. By working together, communities can create a safer environment for all,” she asserted.