Every year since 2009, 4th March has been designated as World Day of the Fight Against Sexual Exploitation. Although there are exceptions, sexual exploitation overwhelmingly involves women and children, and it is a problem of worldwide proportions. It has been estimated that every second of the day an average of […]
3rd Sunday of Lent, Year B – 2024
The text of the 1st reading of today’s celebration is well known to us (Exodus 20:1-17). Many of us have learnt it, long ago, memorizing every one of what is called ‘The Ten Commandments’. We may think that we know them and… there is nothing to be added to our […]
18th Sunday of Year B – 2021
In the 1st reading of today’s celebration (Ex.16:2-4,12-15), we meet people greatly annoyed and showing clearly their discontent. They grumble about their situation and reproach their leader, Moses, for having taken them where they are. Their attitude is quite surprising: We would think they would rejoice at having been freed […]
World Day of Prayer, Reflection and Action Against Human Trafficking – 8 February
Time to end slavery Pope Francis has declared the feast of St Josephine Bakhita, which is celebrated each year on 8th February to be the World Day of Prayer, Reflection and Action Against Human Trafficking. St Josephine Bakhita is the patron saint of victims of slavery and of Sudan. Australians […]
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict – 19 June
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is a United Nations observance on June 19 to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence. The resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on June 19, 2015. The date marks the Security […]
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery – 2 December
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, marks the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949). The focus […]
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery – December 2
The United Nations is committed to fighting against slavery and considers bonded labour, forced labour, the worst forms of child labour and trafficking people as modern forms of slavery. Some sources say that more than one million children are trafficked each year for cheap labour or sexual exploitation. These types […]