Religious play key role in fight against human trafficking

By CathNews New Zealand

August 7th, 2026

(Talitha Kum)

Human trafficking is evolving in increasingly complex ways and the rapid expansion of online scam operations has become “one of the most urgent and alarming forms of exploitation”, the anti-trafficking network Talitha Kum has warned. Source: The Tablet.

Releasing its annual report for 2025, the network – led by women religious around the world – said an estimated 50 million people worldwide experience modern-day slavery, generating more than US$236 billion in criminal profits annually.

The report highlighted how thousands of young people have been deceived by false promises of employment, trafficked across borders and forced into cyber-enabled criminal activities through violence and coercion.

At the same time, wars and conflicts in the Middle East and in countries like Burkina Faso, South Sudan, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, together with forced displacement, climate-related crises and growing inequalities, expose millions of people to trafficking as criminal networks exploit fear, vulnerability and desperation.

Last year, Talitha Kum reached more than 1.2 million people through prevention, protection, survivor accompaniment, advocacy, formation and capacity-building initiatives, according to its report.

“Behind every number is a real person: a survivor regaining freedom, a young person leading change, a family finding hope and a community choosing solidarity over indifference,” said Sr Abby Avelino MM, international coordinator of Talitha Kum.

In 2025, women and girls continued to make up the majority of victims and survivors. The majority of girl victims (60 per cent) are trafficked for sexual exploitation. The report revealed that 45 per cent of children are trafficked for forced labour while 47 per cent are exploited for other purposes such as forced crime.

Last year the anti-trafficking network expanded into Malawi, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, making it present in 113 countries. Its mission was undertaken by 6387 sisters and partners, comprising 882 women religious congregations and 100 male congregations.

The figures demonstrate the strengthened commitment of consecrated life to the global mission of ending human trafficking, the report said.

FULL STORY

Talitha Kum warns of ever-evoloving challenge of human trafficking (By Sarah Mac Donald, Ngala Killian Chimtom/The Tablet)