World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

“Certainly, there is a lot of ignorance on the topic of trafficking. But sometimes, there also seems to be little will to understand the scope of the issue. Why? Because it touches close to our conscience; because it is thorny; because it is shameful. Then there are those who, even knowing this, do no want to speak because they are at the end of the “supply chain” as a user of the “services” that are offered on the street or on the internet… Yes, it takes courage and honesty when, in our daily lives, we meet or deal with persons who could be victims of human trafficking, or when we are tempted to select items which may well have been produced by exploiting others.

“The work of raising awareness must begin at home, with ourselves, because only in this way will we be able to then make our communities aware, motivating them to commit themselves so that no human being may ever again be a victim of trafficking.”

St. Vincent reminds his Daughters that love embraces justice. The Daughters of Charity are constantly solicitous for the development of every person in all the aspects of their being. That is why they are always alert to the ways of helping their brothers and sisters to become conscious of their own and agent of their own promotion. They plead the cause of the underprivileged who do not have the possibility of making their legitimate demands and aspirations heard. (Constitutions 24e)