The theme for the 2019 celebration is Together Against Human Trafficking. Resources for schools, parishes, organisations and individuals are available on the ACRATH website .
Pope Francis established this day in 2015. He continues to speak out about the evils of human trafficking, urging us all to do what we can to raise awareness of this "scourge on humanity", work towards its elimination and support those who have been affected by this crime. ---
“Every human being, man, woman, boy and girl, is made in God’s image. God is the love and freedom that is given in interpersonal relationships, and every human being is a free person destined to live for the good of others in equality and fraternity. Every person, and all people, are equal and must be accorded the same freedom and the same dignity. Any discriminatory relationship that does not respect the fundamental conviction that others are equal is a crime, and frequently an aberrant crime.
Therefore, we declare on each and every one of our creeds that modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labor and prostitution, and organ trafficking, is a crime against humanity. Its victims are from all walks of life, but are most frequently among the poorest and most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters. On behalf of all of them, our communities of faith are called to reject, without exception, any systematic deprivation of individual freedom for the purposes of personal or commercial exploitation; in their name, we make this declaration.”
— Declaration on International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, Dec. 2, 2014
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