On 7 February, we held a prayer vigil on the theme of Migration without Human Trafficking.
The committee against human trafficking, to which Sr Angela from the Bobo-Dioulasso community in Burkina Faso belongs, reflected on how to raise awareness of the reality of human trafficking in the country and around the world.
They invited a young man to tell his story of trafficking in migrants in the region, to show that trafficking is a reality in our region and to call for action to combat it.
Issa from Mali and Yao from Côte d’Ivoire shared their experiences of being trafficked, and the suffering and torture they endured in the desert, which were touching and painful. Yao had been offered the chance to sell cocoa and find a better life in Italy. But the money was taken, and he had to work hard, even during the journey. He was tortured until he escaped from Libya. For months, he crossed the desert on foot or by lorry. He was stuck in Bobo. He spent his nights at the bus station, looking for help to reach his country. A good Samaritan directed him to the sisters for help.
The scars on his body show the authenticity of his story.
Afterwards, we showed a video about child trafficking in West Africa. We held a moment of silence for those who have died trying to reach Europe.
‘We never thought it was happening near us’, said many.
Young domestic workers, a common phenomenon around us, drew attention.
After each intercessory prayer, a candle was lit by the witnesses and members of Talitha Kum Bobo, and placed in front of the image of Bakhita. We prayed for the victims of human trafficking and for those responsible for this horrible crime.
On the 8th, the feast of St Bakhita, the committee led the Eucharist. We explained the mission of Talitha Kum Bobo and presented the different forms of trafficking in our region: forced child labour (in the cocoa fields for boys and domestic work for girls); forced begging, sexual abuse… Young men and women are promised well-paid jobs in Europe, but they sign false contracts and end up as victims of human trafficking…
An appeal has been made to religious men and women to join Talitha Kum Bobo in the fight against human trafficking. It is only through collaboration and networking of expertise against one of today’s major crimes that human trafficking will be eliminated.
