Our sisters and
brothers in the Talitha Kum Network, of which we are also a part, have created
an excellent prayer resource for the World Day of Prayer for Victims of Human
Trafficking which is February 8. The
theme of their prayer service is “They are kids, not slaves!”
We invite you to use this prayer service in
your communities and families. As the
JPIC Office, we share with you below a shorter version of this prayer service,
adapted from the resource created by Talitha Kum, 2017.
Print Version : http://bit.do/c6cmm
WORLD
DAY OF PRAYER
Environment: Decorate a center table with colorful or
black cloth. Place 9 lit candles on top,
with an additional, larger candle (unlit), in the middle. Place an image of St. Josephine Bakhita on
the table with the candles.
Introduction: “Dear brothers and sisters, today, 8
February, the liturgical memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese Sister,
who as a child had the traumatic experience of being a victim of trafficking,
the International Union of Superiors General of Religious Institutes have
promoted the Day of Prayer and Reflection against trafficking in persons. I
encourage all those who are committed to helping men, women and children
enslaved, exploited, abused as tools of pleasure and often tortured and
mutilated. I hope that those who have responsibilities in government will
seriously strive to eliminate the causes of this shameful scourge, a scourge
unworthy of a civilized society. Let each of us be committed to being a voice
for our brothers and sisters, humiliated and deprived of their dignity. Let us
all pray together.” (Pope Francis)
Opening Song. Choose
a well-known song that fits with the theme of the prayer service for all to
sign along.
LEADER: After each of the following statistics is shared,
extinguish the light from one of the candles.
• Worldwide
there are 168 million children in child labor. More than half of them, 85
million, are in hazardous work. (ILO)
• 20 million
child workers are employed in factories that make garments, carpets, toys,
matches and hand-rolled cigarettes. Agriculture remains by far the most
important sector where child laborers’ can be found (98 million, or 59%), but
the problems are not negligible in services (54 million) and industry (12
million) – mostly in the informal economy. Most children work in farms that
produce consumer products such as cocoa, coffee, cotton, rubber and other
crops. (ILO)
• Asia and the
Pacific still have the largest numbers (almost 78 million or 9.3% of child
population), but Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the region with the highest
incidence of child labor (59 million, over 21% of child population). (ILO)
• There are 13
million children in child labor in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the
Middle East and North Africa there are 9.2 million. (ILO)
• Every year,
22,000 children die in work-related accidents. 9% are in industry, including
mining and quarrying, manufacturing and construction. (ILO)
• The number of children
involved in armed conflicts has increased to about 300,000 over the past
decade. 14 is the average age of a child soldier. 40 % of child soldiers are
girls. (ILO)
• 2 million
children are subjected to prostitution in the global commercial sex trade
(UNICEF)
• Millions more
children are likely exploited in prostitution or pornography each year around
the world, most of the time lured or forced into these situations through false
promises and limited knowledge about the risks.(UNICEF)
• About 1 in 10
girls under the age of 20 have been subjected to forced sexual intercourse or
other forced sexual acts at some point of their lives. (UNICEF)
SILENCE: Take a few minutes in quiet reflection.
FIRST
READING:
The third
edition of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against trafficking in
persons highlights the sufferings and the hope of trafficked children and
adolescents. According to the last official statistics of the United Nation,
one in three victims of trafficking are children. The number of trafficked
people who are less than 18 years old is constantly increasing, worldwide.
Children and adolescents are trafficked for sexual exploitation, domestic
servitude, forced marriage, illegal adoptions, forced labour, organs removal,
begging, criminal acts (like child soldiers, drag smuggling) and witchcraft. It
is urgent to listen to the cry of these little ones, to everybody, every family
and every community, who experience the violence of exploitation and slavery,
who is injured and humiliated.
SILENCE
LEADER: Let us light the large candle in the
middle now, and as we light it let us say together:
EVERYONE: We want to become a sign of hope to all
trafficked children and their families. We announce: “They are Kids! Not
slaves!”
SONG: choose a song for
reflection
EVERYONE: We want to become a sign of hope to all
trafficked children and their families. We announce: “They are Kids! Not
slaves!”
READING FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURE: Mt 25:40
LEADER: We have to recognize that many efforts are being made to
end these crimes against children. Many people are making a difference in the
world. We will now hear these stories of
hope, and with each one, light two candles.
Reader 1: Several Congregations of Women
Religious and Church Organizations such as Caritas offer protection and shelter
for children and adolescents who are survivors of trafficking. They are rescued
from any kind of exploitation and trafficking. The shelters offer
psychological, health and educational care. They allow the children to build up
their own future! Many of these children, after a holistic health care time,
are able to return to their own original family.
Everyone: Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.
Reader 2: In the last 10 years many organizations
have been promoting prevention activities to reduce the vulnerability and
consequently the risk of people to be trafficked: Educational programs,
scholarships for poor children in rural areas, income generations programs (not
user what income generations means), health care. Prevention has become a key
word to promote a real change in the society, giving opportunities and
alternatives to children and their family.
Everyone: Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.
Reader 3: Worldwide non-profitable organizations,
faith based and grassroots organizations, governments, social movements and businesses
strengthen collaboration and networking at local, regional and international
level in order to eradicate trafficking in persons.
Everyone: Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.
Reader 4: The integrated commitment of many
organizations and the social polices of many governments help to reduce the
number of child labor. The Global number of children in child labor has
declined by one third since 2000. The change is possible!
Everyone: Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.
LEADER: We want to continue to spark the light of
hope in our work to end human trafficking and support survivors. Let us conclude by prayer the closing prayer
together:
CLOSING PRAYER: O God, when we hear of children and
adults being deceived and taken to unknown places for purposes of sexual
exploitation, forced labor, and organ ‘harvesting’, our hearts are saddened and
our spirits angry that their dignity and rights are ignored through threats,
lies, and force. We cry out against the evil practice of this modern slavery,
and pray with St. Bakhita for it to end. Give us wisdom and courage to reach
out and stand with those whose bodies, hearts and spirits have been so wounded,
so that together we may make real your promises to fill these sisters and
brothers with a love that is tender and good. Send the exploiters away
empty-handed to be converted from this wickedness, and help us all to claim the
freedom that is your gift to your children. Amen
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