Held at JPIC FA Laudato Si Community Centre – Isinya Date: April 12, 2025
Human trafficking is a modern-day social justice crisis that continues to exploit vulnerable individuals, disregarding human dignity, and perpetuating inequality. To tackle this pressing issue and its connection to climate change, JPIC Franciscans Africa organized a community awareness event at the Laudato Si Community Centre in Isinya.
The event brought together youths and young people from different educational backgrounds—primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. It served as a platform to learn and share personal experiences regarding both human trafficking and climate change.
Why Address Human Trafficking?
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- Protect Human Dignity: Trafficking strips individuals—especially women and children—of freedom and safety, exposing them to forced labor, sexual exploitation, and other inhumane conditions.
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- Prevent Economic Harm: By exploiting labor, human trafficking undermines legitimate economies, fosters black markets, and perpetuates poverty.
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- Combat Crime: Organized criminal networks thrive on human trafficking to fund other illicit activities such as drug trafficking and arms smuggling. Addressing trafficking weakens these systems.
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- Promote Equality and Justice: Marginalized groups often bear the brunt of trafficking, intensifying social inequalities. Taking action promotes social justice and ensures freedom from exploitation.
Recognizing these challenges, JPIC Franciscans Africa has initiated programs to raise awareness and advocate for societal change.
Highlights from the Event
The Centre for Social Justice and Ethics (CSJE) at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) joined the cause, represented by staff and students who amplified the message of advocacy. Key speakers offered valuable insights:
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- Steeven Kezamutima (LSM Africa, Programs Manager, JPIC Franciscans Africa): Discussed the impact of climate change on human trafficking, emphasizing how displacement driven by climate challenges leads individuals to migrate in search of safety, food, jobs, and education—making them vulnerable to traffickers.
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- Flavian (JPIC Franciscans Africa Volunteer): Highlighted the dangers of modern human trafficking, particularly affecting young people migrating from rural areas to urban centers, often unknowingly falling into exploitation or trafficking.
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- Dr. Wilkister & Sr. Veronica (CSJE-CUEA): Stressed the importance of embedding human trafficking awareness in education systems to reach local communities and students seeking job and education opportunities.
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- Sr. Mary Wangari (LSSJ, JPIC Franciscans Africa): Advocated for continued efforts to fight human trafficking, underlining the trauma experienced by victims and their families, as well as the obstacles in raising awareness.
The Call to Action
Ending human trafficking is about more than safeguarding individuals—it’s about building a society free from exploitation, where every person can live with dignity and freedom. It requires a collective effort to create awareness, address underlying causes such as climate-induced displacement, and foster advocacy through education and community engagement
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