Talitha Kum

25/05/2026

Today, May 25, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical letter on "Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence", dedicating a section about human trafficking and exploitation (AAS 173-179).

🔗 Read the encyclical at this link: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html

20/05/2026

Peacebuilding starts with how we treat people AND the planet. 🕊️🌍

Join the Talitha K*m global network and Sewing Hope for the Planet (initiative of the JPIC) for an interactive webinar: Non-Violence and Human Dignity: An Integral Ecology Perspective.

📅 On Tuesday, June 23, at 2:00 PM (Rome time)
🔗 Registration link: https://forms.gle/EjL8PWtTnKJbJ7AFA

Hear grassroots testimonies and expert insights from our keynote speaker, Marie Dennis, former co-President and now senior advisor at Pax Christi International. As we explore practical, dignity-centered strategies for conflict resolution.

Because this is an interactive space, you won't just be listening; you'll be participating in a meaningful dialogue to help strengthen our faith communities and partnerships.

🗣️ Your voice matters! Register today and join the conversation.

18/05/2026

Project Update! Ready to make your steps count?

Our youth empowerment project on the Walking in Dignity app has just been updated, which means you can once again donate your steps to support this incredible initiative! 🫱🏼‍🫲🏾

As part of Talitha K*m International’s campaign for the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, celebrated on the feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita, we renew our commitment to walking alongside survivors and raising awareness about human trafficking worldwide.

Talitha K*m International encourages the empowerment of young people so they can continue educating, preventing exploitation, and protecting those most at risk.

👉 Download the Walking in Dignity app 📱, donate your daily steps 👣 and join us in building a future of hope!

11/05/2026

From May 4 to 9, the Talitha K*m Regional Representatives gathered in Rome for the Talitha K*m International Coordination Committee (TKICC) Annual Meeting.

Once a year, the members of the TKICC meet in Rome: the Talitha K*m International Coordinator together with the Representatives from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, North America and Oceania. This is an opportunity to connect, discern, and plan the journey of the network of networks towards 2030.

This year’s theme was: “Deepening Communion, Shaping Action – Walking Together as a Network to End Human Trafficking.”

👉 Swipe for a glimpse into our gathering!

08/05/2026

Today we celebrate the first anniversary of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV!

It is a joy to look back at the beautiful moments our sisters and network members shared with him in Rome during the 12th International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.

Pope Leo XIV reminds us that to overcome exploitation, we must behold every individual as a beloved child of God, and guard our "small flame" of prayer, to resist indifference to injustice.

In communion with the whole world, we remain a compassionate presence, upholding the dignity of all. May his message continue to inspire us to be seeds of hope, peace, and freedom. We continue to pray for our Holy Father.

🔗 Read his message:https://preghieracontrotratta.org/files/documenti/20260129-messaggio-contro-tratta_en_vySNkXV.pdf

06/05/2026

The Talitha K*m global network invites you to join two important upcoming webinars:

🗓️ This Saturday, May 9th at 9:30 a.m. (Rome time), Talitha K*m Bangladesh and Asia will host "Reflecting on and Responding to End Human Trafficking" featuring special guest Dr. Benedict Alo D'Rozario, President of Caritas Asia. The webinar will be held in English only.

🔗 Register at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQUXvPW6IebAGktwtC9fG6Zg6bx_dsM5VrbNIXi7Nlov9QZA/viewform

🗓️ Next Tuesday, May 12th, join a special collaborative webinar hosted by CATHII and Red Rahamim (the Talitha K*m networks in Canada and Mexico). Together with six partner organizations working against trafficking across the Americas, they will raise awareness about the heightened risk of trafficking caused by the FIFA World Cup, and explore coordinated prevention strategies. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, French and Spanish.

🔗 Register at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf81_YND8XfVk1CkhTvM39mseX0gyzS9uCOKzGkrNUZuPfNjw/viewform

30/04/2026

At the Women Deliver Conference 2026 in Narrm (Melbourne), the world’s largest convening on gender equality, Talitha K*m sisters are contributing to panel discussions and global dialogues on the role of faith leaders in ending human trafficking.

Sr. Abby Avelino participated as a speaker in two side events focused on strengthening prevention and protection efforts through cross-sector collaboration:
🌏 “Strengthening Collective Action: Faith, Justice and Working to End Human Trafficking in the Oceanic Pacific” – hosted by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Catholic Sisters Initiative
📢 “Voices of Change: Faith Leaders on the Frontlines of Adolescent Health” – organized by the Gates Foundation

Talitha K*m International is deeply grateful to the Hilton Foundation for making this meaningful opportunity possible.

29/04/2026

29/04/2026

From April 15–17 in Boston, the annual conference of the Alliance to End Human Trafficking brought together nearly 200 participants from across sectors and continents, united by a common purpose: strengthening prevention in an increasingly complex, digital, and interconnected world.

In her reflection, Sr. Abby Avelino highlights a crucial insight: human trafficking is not an isolated crime, but a global system shaped by migration, inequality, labor exploitation, and evolving digital threats. From online scam operations to transnational networks, the realities are shifting and so must our response.
Grounded in survivor voices, global collaboration, and a shared commitment to human dignity, the conference reaffirmed that prevention is a collective responsibility that crosses all borders.

👉 Read Sr. Abby's reflection on our website: https://www.talithakum.info/en/news/united-in-prevention-current-trends-and-prevention-strategies/
📲 To learn more about the conference, visit Alliance To End Human Trafficking

24/04/2026

On April 23, we held the launch of the latest Talitha K*m Study Packet: A Kit for Prayer and Action.

Inspired by the first priority of the 2024 Final Declaration of the General Assembly, this new resource focuses on systemic change in the face of new vulnerabilities to human trafficking.

We thank everyone who joined us, and especially our speakers Sr. Jean Quinn, Sr. Kayula Lesa and Marilyn Zigmund Luke for their inspiring contributions. We are grateful for the meaningful conversation shared with the participants, who denounced news forms of trafficking related to the rise of AI, platforms like OnlyFans, and in contexts of war.

🌐 You can now visit our website to read the Study Packet, available in English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese.

23/04/2026

With deep gratitude, we thank Sr. Paula Phonprasertruksa, SPC, as she concludes her mission as Regional Coordinator for Talitha K*m Asia.

Over the past three years, Sr. Paula has accompanied and strengthened the network across the region with dedication, faith, and a deep commitment to dignity and justice. Her leadership has helped foster collaboration, resilience, and a shared vision to end human trafficking.

🗣️ “I recognize that this role was not only a task but a calling, and I am sincerely thankful for the chance to contribute meaningfully.”

We give thanks for her service, her witness, and the many seeds planted along the way. 🔗 Read her full message of gratitude on our website.
https://www.talithakum.info/en/news/a-message-of-gratitude-from-sr-paula-3-years-of-shared-mission-as-regional-coordinator-for-talitha-kum-asia/