A day to reflect and act to end human trafficking

2 February 2022

2 Feb 2022

As we continue our work to eradicate modern slavery through our procurement processes, it is important to remember those who have fought against these injustices before us.

Today is the Feast Day of St Josephine Bakhita – the patron saint of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. On this day we pray for all those affected by these crimes, and the people that volunteer and work to eradicate this crime.

St Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped by Arab slave traders from her home in Sudan at the age of nine and sold into slavery. Flogging and maltreatment were part of her daily life, and she experienced the moral and physical humiliations associated with slavery. For 12 years she was bought, sold and given away over a dozen times. She spent so much time in captivity that she forgot her original name.

After many years of struggle, Josephine was legally declared free. As slavery had been outlawed in Sudan before Josephine was born, it was determined that she could not have lawfully been made a slave. With her new found freedom, she chose to remain with the Canossian Sisters, who she was left with for a period of time during her time as a slave.

Surrounded by the sisters, she died on 8 February 1947. This day has been designated as a day of prayer, reflection and action to end the injustice of human trafficking.

As we continue to work towards the eradication of modern slavery, today we give thanks for the work of people such as St Josephine.

For more information about the Australian Catholic Ant-Slavery Network (ACAN), visit https://www.acan.org.au/modernslavery.

To find out more about VMCH visit www.vmch.com.au

Written by VMCH – December 6 2021 – View a range of our articles here.

Want to find out more?

Residential Aged Care with VMCH offers tailored care, specialised dementia support, palliative care and respite options. Call us on 1300 698 624 to find out more.

Intergenerational volunteering program brings joy

A safe haven for men’s health

Pastoral care at end-of-life a vital support

Pastoral Care: providing emotional and spiritual support

Shanagolden Celebrates Milestones and Blessings

Affordable homes for life

Older migrants need more housing support

Homelessness Week: affordable homes a lifeline for Helen

A trip down memory lane

A little lost? Start here.

Locating the information you need has become far easier with our useful guide. Answer a few simple questions and you will be on your way.

Not sure where to start?

→

Who needs our services?

I am here for
someone else I am here
for myself I am
looking for a job

Acknowledgement of Country

We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.