Did those individuals have the freedom to choose to work and the right to leave if they wished? Were they given a ‘living wage’ – a wage that allows workers to live, not just survive? These questions are crucial if enslavement is to be stamped out.
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking are critical issues on the Catholic Church’s radar. There are approximately 50 million people trapped in situations of modern slavery, equating to nearly one in every 150 individuals worldwide.
The victims of modern slavery might be much closer to you than you realise. This practice takes various forms, including: entrapment, financial coercion, withholding wages, seizing of identity documents (which can lead to trafficking in persons), slavery, servitude, forced labour, forced marriage, debt bondage, deceptive recruitment for labour or services, and the worst forms of child labour. It infiltrates numerous global supply chains, touching the products we often take for granted.
The Catholic Church has a strong commitment to eradicating modern slavery, a stance grounded in Catholic Social Teaching: “At its heart the call to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking is a call to make a choice for respecting the intrinsic and inalienable dignity of every human person.”
The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has taken a stand against modern slavery. Its Modern Slavery Policy outlines the commitment it has made to work with others to end this abhorrent practice globally. The Diocese is dedicated to protecting and respecting the freedom and dignity of people everywhere.
St Josephine Bakhita The Patron Saint of Sudan and victims of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
Josephine Bakhita was born around 1869 at Dafur (modern-day Western Sudan), and was a member of the Daju people. In 1877 she was kidnapped and sold into slavery. She was bought and sold several times, eventually finding herself in Italy. There she found freedom and became a Canossian Sister. Josephine died on the 8 February 1947. On 1 October 2000, Josephine Bakhita was declared a saint by the Catholic Church and 8 February was established as her feast day.
On the 8 February 2024, the Diocesan Liturgy Council will invite people throughout the Diocese to highlight the feast of St Josephine Bakhita as a way of drawing attention to the plight of modern slavery. A range of resources regarding formation and prayer have been made available to provide assistance. The goal is to create a greater awareness of the issue of subjugation and the need to uphold the dignity of all people. It is a reminder for everyone to open their minds and hearts and be inspired to act in ways that comfort and empower the oppressed, promote justice and challenge social structures. The International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking is also held on 8 February every year.
What can you do?
- Become knowledgeable. The more you know, the more you can help.
- Learn to spot the signs. Be aware of your neighbour/neighbourhood.
- Be a responsible consumer. Check if your favourite brands have a modern slavery statement on their website.
- Join the movement. Support CatholicCare and other agencies.
- Spread the word. Educate your friends, family and peers.
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Je, watu hao wana uhuru wa kuchagua kufanya kazi na haki ya kuondoka ikiwa wanataka? Je, walipewa'mshahara wa kuishi' - mshahara ambao unawawezesha wafanyakazi kuishi, si kuishi tu? Maswali haya ni muhimu ikiwa utumwa utakomeshwa. Utumwa wa kisasa na Uuzaji wa Binadamu ni masuala muhimu kwenye rada ya Kanisa Katoliki. Watu milioni 50 hivi wanaishi katika hali ya utumwa wa kisasa, karibu mtu mmoja kati ya watu 150 duniani kote. Waathirika wa utumwa wa kisasa wanaweza kuwa karibu zaidi na wewe kuliko unavyojua. Mazoea haya huchukua aina mbalimbali, ikiwa ni pamoja na: kuingizwa katika mtego, kulazimishwa kifedha, kukatishwa mshahara, kukamatwa kwa nyaraka za utambulisho (ambazo zinaweza kusababisha biashara ya watu), utumwa, utumwa, kazi ya kulazimishwa, ndoa ya kulazimishwa, utumwa wa deni, kuajiri kwa udanganyifu kwa kazi au huduma, na aina mbaya zaidi za kazi ya watoto. Inashambulia minyororo mingi ya ugavi ya ulimwenguni pote, ikiathiri bidhaa ambazo mara nyingi tunaziona kuwa za kawaida. "Katika mafundisho yake ya Katoliki, Kanisa la Katoliki linasema: ""Kutaka kuondoa utumwa wa kisasa na biashara ya binadamu ni wito wa kufanya uchaguzi kwa heshima ya heshima ya asili na isiyoweza kuondolewa ya kila mtu.""" Sera yake ya Utumwa wa Kisasa inaelezea ahadi ambayo imefanya kufanya kazi na wengine kumaliza zoea hili la kuchukiza ulimwenguni. Dayosisi imejitolea kulinda na kuheshimu uhuru na heshima ya watu kila mahali. Mtakatifu Josephine Bakhita, Mlinzi Mtakatifu wa Sudan na waathirika wa utumwa wa kisasa na biashara ya binadamu, alizaliwa karibu 1869 huko Dafur (Sudani ya Magharibi ya kisasa) na alikuwa mwanachama wa watu wa Daju. Mwaka 1877 alitekwa nyara na kuuzwa utumwani. Alinunuliwa na kuuzwa mara kadhaa, na hatimaye akajikuta nchini Italia. Huko alipata uhuru na akawa Dada wa Canossian. Josephine alikufa tarehe 8 Februari 1947. Mnamo Oktoba 1, 2000, Josephine Bakhita alitangazwa kuwa mtakatifu na Kanisa Katoliki na Februari 8 ilianzishwa kama siku yake ya sikukuu. Katika siku ya 8 Februari 2024, Baraza la Liturujia la Dayosisi litakaribisha watu katika Dayosisi nzima kusisitiza sikukuu ya Mtakatifu Josephine Bakhita kama njia ya kuvutia umakini kwa shida ya utumwa wa kisasa. Vifaa mbalimbali kuhusu malezi na sala vimepatikana ili kutoa msaada. Lengo ni kuunda ufahamu mkubwa wa suala la utumwa na haja ya kutetea heshima ya watu wote. Ni ukumbusho kwa kila mtu kufungua akili na mioyo yao na kuhamasishwa kutenda kwa njia ambazo zinafariji na kuwawezesha wale wanaodhulumiwa, kukuza haki na changamoto miundo ya kijamii. Siku ya Kimataifa ya Maombi na Uelewa dhidi ya Uuzaji wa Binadamu huadhimishwa kila mwaka Februari 8. Unaweza kufanya nini? - Kuwa na ujuzi. Kadiri unavyojua, ndivyo unavyoweza kusaidia zaidi. - Jifunze kuona ishara. Kuwa na ufahamu wa jirani yako. - Uwe mtumiaji mwenye daraka. Angalia kama bidhaa zako unazopenda zina taarifa ya utumwa wa kisasa kwenye tovuti yao. - Kujiunga na harakati. Msaada wa Katoliki na mashirika mengine. - Kueneza neno. Weka elimu kwa marafiki, familia na wenzako. Fuata mnnews.today kwenye Facebook.