To mark the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking this year, Bishop Alfred Schlert of the Diocese of Allentown reminded the faithful of the ongoing problem.

“Through the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita, may we always follow the example of Christ crucified, and offer our sufferings willingly,” Schlert said in a recent Twitter post. 

The International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking is observed annually on Feb. 8, a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) release said. The day is dedicated to bringing attention to the ongoing problem of human trafficking and the need for individuals, communities and nations to take action against this horrific crime. 

This year’s focal point was on "Journeying in Dignity," which caled on the faithful to identify the processes that lead to exploitation, learn about the daily journeys of those seeking freedom and dignity, encourage anti-trafficking initiatives, and create a culture of encounter; the release said. 

The International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking fell on the same day as the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese woman who at just 7 years of age was kidnapped from her home in 1876. She was subjected to the horrors of slavery and later was trafficked to Italy where she eventually gained her freedom and joined the Canossian Daughters of Charity, a report by the Catholic News Agency (CNA) said. Pope St. John Paul II beatified Bakhita in 1992, and she was made the patron saint of human trafficking survivors in October 2000.

The pontiff has designated February as a month of prayer for women who have been victims of violence, particularly those who have been subjected to human trafficking, the CNA report said. The International Labor Organization noted that human trafficking is estimated to be a $150 billion industry that exploits 25 million people globally.

The USCCB asked the faithful to pray on Feb. 8 for the victims of human trafficking and to pray for an end to the exploitation and abuse they endure. People were also encouraged to educate themselves about human trafficking and to take action by supporting anti-trafficking organizations, reporting suspected trafficking instances to authorities, and campaigning for tougher laws and policies to prevent human trafficking.