Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita - February 8

On February 8, the feast day of St Josephine Bakhita, the Patron Saint of victims of human trafficking, we remember and pray for the 50 million victims of this evil trade in human brings.

With as many as 50 million victims of human trafficking around the world, we call on all States to re-prioritise efforts to end this evil market in humans as they pledged to do with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 in 2015.

This will require increased funding of the appropriate State agencies, and increased collaboration between State actors, police, civil society and business.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols will be holding a mass on February 8 at 12:30 in Westminster Cathedral, which will be livestreamed online.

For more information, see Santa Marta Group’s six point plan: Santa Marta Group | Strategic Plan Overview.

For more information on St. Josephine Bakhita: Santa Marta Group | Saint Josephine Bakhita

For more information on the International Day of Prayer and Awareness: The International Day of Prayer and Awareness against human trafficking (preghieracontrotratta.org)