Human Traffiking, its Origins and Impact on Society
25 June 2025“If we close our eyes and ears, we will be complicit in human trafficking” Pope Francis
On June 24, 2025, a conference on the theme “Human trafficking, its origins and impact on society” was held at the Marie Immaculée School Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This conference was led by the Talitha Kum team, composed of six nuns and one monk from different congregations and one lay person. The conference was intended for final-year students with the aim of raising awareness about this scourge that claims so many victims around the world and particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It began with a prayer led by the students, which had been prepared by the Claretian family for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, celebrated on February 8, 2025. During their presentation, the speakers began by showing a video on human trafficking. This painful reality touched many students and awakened their minds and senses to these phenomena.
Seized by a desire for freedom, they asked the speakers questions about how to escape if they were victims. The students were encouraged to be open and to seek guidance from trustworthy adults, and above all to report any practices that deprive others of their freedom, and to be vigilant so as not to facilitate the work of traffickers by doing what they ask. We concluded the event with a final prayer.
