St. Josephine Bakhita’s feast day marks anti-human trafficking campaign launch in Africa

ACI Africa, Feb 8, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Over 30 African countries have confirmed their participation in a campaign to end human trafficking organized by the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN).

The campaign, which begins Feb. 8, the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave of Sudanese descent and patron saint of victims of human trafficking, is designated for prayer and awareness of human trafficking.

This year, more than 30 countries in Africa will celebrate Mass in what is probably one of the biggest campaigns PACTPAN theologians have organized to create awareness against trafficking. Peaceful marches have also been organized in the countries that have confirmed their participation in the campaign under the theme “Restoring Hope in Africa: A Jubilee Call to End Human Trafficking.”

Uganda’s vice president, Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, is set to deliver a keynote address on the theme of the campaign. In the whole of East Africa in particular, Uganda has been said to be the most hospitable to refugees, especially from South Sudan — some of them victims of human trafficking.

Coordinating the campaign is PACTPAN’s director of programs, Sister Leonida Katunge, who shared details of the event with ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa.

A member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Archdiocese of Mombasa, Katunge said a total of 22,500 people from 35 countries have already registered to take part in the campaign physically through peaceful demonstrations and prayer events.

Out of the 35 countries, only 10 will not be participating in in-person gatherings due to political instabilities, Katunge said.

“We have up to 10 countries where members will not go to the streets due to their current political upheavals. These include the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there is widespread violence,” she explained. “These countries will follow the livestream on the PACTPAN YouTube channel. We are out to walk together, even on social media platforms, to fight this war.”

Countries that have shared their programs for the campaign, especially on St. Bakhita’s feast day, include Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Lesotho, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Senegal.

In South Sudan, Giningakpio Justin Dapu, who is organizing the PACTPAN campaign in the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, told ACI Africa that more than 1,000 people in the South Sudanese diocese have already registered for the mega event. 

“We have mobilized 1,300 people who will participate in the campaign on Feb. 8. We have formed a team of 35 very well-trained and knowledgeable people who are in charge of the logistics of the campaign. They are the ones in charge of ground preparation, awareness creation, and mobilization,” Dapu said, adding that the people of God in South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, which used to be part of Sudan, especially feel compelled to celebrate the feast of St. Bakhita.

“In fact, as part of our campaign against human trafficking, we plan to start a devotional group named St. Bakhita to deeply seek her intercession in this fight,” Dapu said.

Highlighting the events leading to the Feb. 8 campaign, Katunge said: “We began by calling for a webinar through various networks where I am a member. I then had some human trafficking survivors speak to us. Then we thought it wise to involve the continent, and this is what basically we did since December 2024, and we are still struggling to get there.”

Katunge said that PACTPAN has, over the years, invested in grassroots collaborations to address issues affecting African communities such as human trafficking. She said PACTPAN’s shared vision of addressing human trafficking resonated with many African leaders, adding that the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year also inspired widespread participation.

Katunge, who headed the national steering committee for Kenyan participants in the dialogue between Pope Francis and the African youths, explained that the campaign against human trafficking is deeply connected to the theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope.”

“We are basing ourselves on the Gospel of Luke’s call to liberation and justice for all captives and, this time, those tied to modern slavery,” Katunge said.

She said the PACTPAN campaign embodies the call for freedom by addressing modern-day slavery and exploitation, encouraging healing, and fostering hope among communities in Africa.

Katunge is a practicing advocate of the High Court of Kenya who focuses on property law and family law and described the dire human trafficking situation in Africa, highlighting cases of forced labor, sexual exploitation, and child trafficking as well as organ harvesting — which she said is “getting worse day after day.”

“During my research and the documentary compilation, I listened to many cases of trafficking of women from West Africa to Europe and the Middle East,” Katunge said of the documentary she put together in May 2024, also showcasing exploitation of children in conflict zones.

PACTPAN’s planned march against human trafficking is organized in partnerships with church networks, nongovernmental organizations, youth organizations, and governmental agencies and will feature a clear itinerary, including starting points in key African cities, messages of hope, prayers, and moments of silence for victims.

“Logistics such as transportation, security, and media coverage are being handled collaboratively and locally to ensure success,” Katunge said.

The participation of a vice president of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Mombasa in the campaign brings significant credibility, visibility, and influence to the event, she said. 

“It demonstrates high-level political commitment, encouraging other leaders to prioritize anti-trafficking efforts, and amplifies the campaign’s reach across national and regional levels,” Katunge told ACI Africa. 

PACTPAN has lined up various other activities in the context of the 2025 Jubilee Year celebrations to raise awareness against human trafficking in Africa. According to Katunge, “the campaign runs to 2030 and the war goes on.”

“We will take part in the U.N. day for trafficked persons on the 30th of July from this year until 2030. We plan to have a continental team that will fight this war in these years,” she said.

She further shared that there will be interfaith prayers for victims of human trafficking, workshops to educate communities on identifying trafficking networks, and fundraising events to support survivors.

Policy forums are also to be held to advocate for stricter anti-trafficking measures, Katunge said, adding that cultural festivals will also be held to promote unity and hope during the 2025 Jubilee Year, which Pope Francis officially launched on Christmas Eve 2024 with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica of Rome.

The PACTPAN official said the network of African theologians also plans to have a center in Africa where young people, especially girls, will be equipped with skills to shield them from traffickers. 

“Telling these girls to stop going to these countries where they are trafficked is one thing. But how are we supporting them if they stay?” she posed, and continued: “We want to collaborate with the states to keep these young people at home and to provide them with training and jobs. It is possible and we are sure we will get there.”

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262049/st-josephine-bakhitas-feast-day-marks-huge-anti-human-trafficking-campaign-launch-in-africa