International Women’s Day is a Day we commemorate and respect women who raise their voices to advocate for their rights and we do whatever we can to stand in solidarity with women all over the world. We commemorate this Day to protect the rights of women and girls and get into the roots of systemic violence against women, especially women who live with many forms of discrimination and exploitation. Talitha Kum accepts the invitation to take the side of those who are discriminated against, exploited, and victimized by modern slavery. Women and girls account for 70 percent of global human trafficking victims, according to the United Nations report.

Talitha Kum network is rooted in Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching, and is a network of networks that chooses to stand by those who are deep in the darkness of social vulnerability, oppression, and exploitation, providing spiritual sustenance for a new dignified life.

Talitha Kum was formally established by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) as an international initiative against human trafficking and exploitation.  We, as consecrated women in Talitha Kum,  live in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who suffer the consequences of the evil of human trafficking. We share our lives with those who are in situations of social vulnerability and risk of trafficking. As a woman, I respond to this solidarity with compassion and a listening heart for women in need, especially marginalized women, single mothers, and vulnerable children. My role as a religious Sister is to continue to respond to the Call of the Church. 

As Pope Francis said, “Trafficking in persons and other contemporary forms of enslavement are a worldwide problem that needs to be taken seriously by humanity as a whole..." FT[22].
Our Blessed Mother is a symbol of the work for social justice. She becomes a powerful symbol that carries Christ, who exalts the poor and overthrows the powerful (Luke 2:22). Her Magnificat manifests a sign of resilience hope and justice so that women in our world not be left behind or marginalized.

We all have a role to play in responding to the call of the Church. Let us include everyone, survivors and perpetrators, to work towards embracing a transformative power of care, hope, and mercy. 

We continue to journey from the darkness of exploitation and trafficking to the light of human dignity and freedom: to care for victims of human trafficking and exploitation, and for people at risk; to heal physical, psychosocial, and spiritual wounds; to empower victims and survivors, as well as individuals at risk, by amplifying their voices; to restore human dignity by promoting access to justice. We are called for a social transformation for a world without human trafficking.

Sr. Abby Avelino, mm - Talitha Kum International Coordinator