12/02/2026
On February 8, the Catholic Church worldwide celebrates the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. This date marks the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita. In 1877, as a seven-year-old Sudanese girl, she experienced the trauma of slavery. Sold seven times to different masters, she endured torture and suffering. She eventually found freedom in Italy with the help of the Church and the courts, was baptized, and became a Canossian Daughter of Charity. Her resilience serves as a beacon of hope: even in the darkest moments, God rescues and protects His people.
Today, this darkness persists. In Malaysia, we continue to see many lured by scammers with promises of high salaries, only to end up enslaved in other countries. In one tragic case, a youth was trafficked to Cambodia, imprisoned for three months, forced to work in scams, and beaten. The entire church prayed for him. Eventually, a politician intervened, and he was rescued by Cambodian authorities.
The crisis also impacts the Rohingya people in Myanmar and Cox’s Bazar. Countless men, women, and children are kidnapped by traffickers and held for ransom in Thailand. There, they face starvation, abuse, and even murder if families cannot pay. Some survivors eventually reach Malaysia, where Caritas Penang works with the Church and CSOs to rescue and accompany them on their journey of recovery.
Peace begins with dignity. The late Pope Francis reminded us that peace is not merely the absence of war, but the fruit of respecting the human dignity of every person. Victims of trafficking are not criminals; they are wounded individuals who need our support. In times of hopelessness, we must turn to God, and in turn, become instruments of His hope.
