History

The first edition was celebrated in 2015 at the desire of Pope Francis, who the previous year had commissioned the International Unions of Superiors and Superiors General to be its promoters.

From the beginning, Talitha Kum, the international network founded by the UISG and committed against trafficking in persons, assumed the coordination of the group of partner organizations of the day at the international level.

In 2015, throughout the world, 2312 lights were turned on against trafficking, in 154 countries. In Rome took place: a prayer vigil, a Eucharistic celebration and participation with banners in the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, during which Pope Francis spoke of the event in the following words:

"Dear brothers and sisters, today, 8 February, the liturgical memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese Sister, who as a child had the traumatic experience of being a victim of trafficking, the International Unions of Superiors General of religious institutes have promoted the Day Prayer and Reflection against trafficking in persons. I encourage all those who are committed to helping men, women and children enslaved, exploited, abused as tools or pleasure and often tortured and mutilated. I hope that those who have responsibilities of government will seriously strive to eliminate the causes of this shameful scourge, a scourge unworthy of a civilized society. Let each of us be committed to being a voice for our brothers and sisters, humiliated and deprived of their dignity. Let us all pray together.”
(Pope Francis, Angelus Domini February 8, 2015)

In 2016, followed a similar pattern, favoring the local action.

The 2017 edition introduces an element of novelty, trying to balance the proposal of "prayer" and "reflection" by focusing on a specific aspect of the vast and complex world of trafficking in persons: the trafficking of children, girls and adolescents. With the specific slogan: They are just children! Not Slaves!

2018: MIGRATION WITHOUT TRAFFICKING: say yes to Freedom and no to slavery

2019 and 2020: Together against trafficking in persons

2021 brings into the spotlight one of the main causes of human trafficking: the dominant economic model of our time, whose limits and contradictions are exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The inspiring image is by Timothy Schmalz, the artist who created the sculpture of St. Bakhita "Let the Oppressed go free".

In 2022, “The Power of care – women, economy and human trafficking” is the theme for the 8th world Day of Prayer and Awreness against human trafficking. The theme’s choice continues the previous year’s, where we began to reflect on the connection between the economy and human trafficking. The 2022 edition proposes to focus on women. They are, in fact, the most affected by the violence of trafficking. At the same time, they have a fundamental and important role in the process of transforming the economy of exploitation into one of care.

In 2023, for the first time since its establishment, 15 young representatives of partner organizations from all continents gathered in Rome for a week of meetings and training focused on human trafficking. The initiative was guided by the theme Walking in Dignity, chosen by an international group of young people, and marked an important step in the journey toward the tenth anniversary of the Day. The week opened on Monday, 6 February, with an ecumenical prayer vigil at the Parish of Santa Lucia in the Prati district of Rome, a symbolic location marked by recent episodes of violence linked to exploitation. The central moment of the week was the Online Pilgrimage of Prayer and Awareness on Wednesday, 8 February, the Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita. In the spirit of Walking in Dignity, the pilgrimage connected all continents—Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America—and was live-streamed in five languages. The central segment of the pilgrimage was entrusted to young people committed against trafficking and included a message from Pope Francis. Participants represented more than 50 countries worldwide. On Friday, 10 February, a flash mob against trafficking took place along Via della Conciliazione, organized by the Evolution Company of the Holy Dance together with the group of young international representatives. The week concluded on Sunday, 12 February, with participation in the Angelus Prayer in St Peter’s Square.

In 2024, the theme chosen was “Journeying in Dignity: Listen, Dream, Act”. Fifty young people engaged in the fight against human trafficking gathered in Rome for a series of formation, prayer, and awareness-raising initiatives. The programme began on 2 February with the arrival of delegates, followed by training activities starting on 3 February. On Sunday, 4 February, participants joined the Angelus Prayer in St Peter’s Square. On Tuesday, 6 February, a flash mob against trafficking took place in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, followed in the evening by an ecumenical prayer vigil at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, celebrated in five languages and inspired by the elements of water, fire, air, metal, and earth. On Wednesday, 7 February, the international group participated in the Private Audience with Pope Francis in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. The week culminated on Thursday, 8 February, with the Online Pilgrimage of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, connecting all continents and time zones. More than 50 countries were involved, and, for the second consecutive year, the central moment of the pilgrimage was led by young people engaged against trafficking.

In 2025, the theme was "Ambassadors of Hope: Together Against Human Trafficking". 
During the week of 8 February, thousands of people around the world—through parishes, communities, and associations—took part in moments of prayer, meetings, and shared reflection against human trafficking. The initiatives in Rome began on Sunday, 2 February, with participation in the Angelus Prayer in St Peter’s Square. On Monday, 3 February, the delegation of young people undertook a pilgrimage through three Holy Doors of the Jubilee, supported by the Walking in Dignity app. On Tuesday, 4 February, a public flash mob against human trafficking took place in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, followed by an Ecumenical Prayer Vigil in English and Italian at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere. Wednesday, 5 February, was dedicated to ongoing formation and awareness-raising activities on human trafficking. On Thursday, 6 February, young participants took part in a further Jubilee pilgrimage through the Holy Doors. In the afternoon, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the event “A Call for Hope and Healing” was held at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, featuring testimonies from survivors of human trafficking, contributions from young people and advocates, and artistic performances, including by the Gen Verde band. On the morning of Friday, 7 February, Pope Francis met in his private office with a delegation of youth ambassadors, survivors, and representatives of the organizing networks. Immediately afterward, the Global Online Pilgrimage of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking took place, connecting all continents and time zones—from Oceania to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The event was live-streamed in five languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian). The week concluded on Saturday, 8 February, with a full day of dialogue and collaborative work among youth ambassadors, culminating in the launch of a new global call to action against human trafficking, designed as a shared tool for awareness-raising and mobilization across networks worldwide.