On Thursday, 5th February 2026, members of Consecrated Persons Against Human Trafficking (ConPAHT–Talitha Kum Ghana) gathered in a solemn and compassionate prayer session with seven survivors of human trafficking who were preparing to be reintegrated into their home countries.
The prayer gathering formed part of the global observance of the World Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, a day strategically celebrated on February 8, the Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita, who is the Patron Saint of all victims of human trafficking and modern‑day slavery. St. Bakhita’s life, marked by captivity, suffering, and her eventual journey into faith and freedom, stands as a beacon of hope and a powerful symbol of dignity for survivors worldwide.
This annual observance aims to:

• Raise awareness about the many forms of human trafficking, including sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude, forced marriage, and online exploitation.
• Pray for victims and survivors, offering spiritual solidarity, healing, and renewed hope.
• Mobilize communities to take concrete action in preventing trafficking and supporting survivors in rebuilding dignified lives.
• Promote global collaboration through the Talitha Kum Network, together with the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and other Church bodies. The day was established by Pope Francis in 2015 to strengthen the worldwide fight against modern slavery.

This year’s theme, “Peace Begins with Dignity: A Global Call to End Human Trafficking,” guided the spirit of the gathering.
During the session, Sr. Olivia Umoh, DC, National Coordinator of ConPAHT–Talitha Kum Ghana, invited the survivors into a quiet time of reflection. She encouraged them to think deeply about their experiences since arriving in Ghana. Following this reflection, they were invited to share openly: how traffickers lured them, what they encountered upon reaching their supposed destinations, and what advice they wished to give other young people eager to travel abroad.
The survivors shared their stories with courage and sobriety. Many explained that they had been deceived with promises of well‑paid jobs in boutiques or supermarkets in Ghana, only to be forced into prostitution upon arrival. They expressed heartfelt gratitude to God for their rescue and for finding safety, counselling, and compassionate support at ConPAHT–Talitha Kum Ghana.
The Talitha Kum team offered words of guidance to strengthen the young women’s hope, faith, and sense of dignity. We encouraged them to embrace the possibility of becoming advocate voices of warning and hope to help prevent other vulnerable individuals from falling into the hands of traffickers.
To extend the impact of the day, the team held a walking procession with the survivors, followed by a placard campaign—a symbolic photoshoot aimed at raising awareness about human trafficking. The messages on the placards echoed themes of freedom, dignity, and collective responsibility.
The commemoration concluded with preparations to ensure the survivors’ safe return to their home countries, a step that marked the beginning of their healing and reintegration journey.

You can watch the reflection videos by visiting our social media pages using the link below.

Facebook: Conpath-Talitha KUM GHANA | Facebook

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talithakum_ghana?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc