This year’s theme is ‘Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation’.
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (July 30, 2025) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in recognizing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. In 2013, United Nations member states adopted a resolution that designated July 30 as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The day aims to raise awareness about the victims of human trafficking and promote and protect their rights.
This year’s theme is “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation” and highlights how organized criminal networks are driving this victimization and exploitation. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) noted, “More and more victims are being trafficked every year, across greater distances, with greater violence, for longer periods of time and for greater profit. From 2020 to 2023, there were more than 200,000 detected victims globally, which is just the tip of the iceberg. The actual number of unreported cases is believed to be significantly higher.”
UNODC added, “Organized criminal networks are driving this victimization and exploitation, using migration flows, global supply chains, legal and economic loopholes and digital platforms to facilitate cross-border trafficking at a massive scale. They profit from forced labor, sexual exploitation and coercion into criminal activities, such as online scams and drug smuggling.”
“Salesian missionaries who operate in more than 130 countries work both to prevent human trafficking and to care for victims who are living on the streets and seeking a second chance in life,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “Salesian missionaries educate youth about the dangers associated with migration, which can put them at risk of trafficking and those who might wish them harm. One of the primary ways we support youth is understanding the needs of the local market and providing training programs that help youth find work in their own communities in employment sectors that are looking for skilled labor.”
To mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight programs around the globe that provide life-changing education to help educate and support youth.
INDIA
Salesians in Rajahmundry, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, are working to address the challenges that migrant workers face. Salesians held an event with Father Francis Bosco, coordinator of pastoral care for migrants in South Asia, who spoke about the issues and stressed the role of organizations in bringing these problems to the attention of the government.
The event was organized thanks to the collaboration between People’s Action for Rural Awakening, Women and Child-Friendly Rajahmundry and Don Bosco for Migrants.
A Salesian explained, “The goal of the event was to make sure that migrant workers have what they need. During the event, there was discussion about the launch of awareness-raising programs for migrant workers and posting useful phone numbers in very busy places, such as train stations and bus stops. We also discussed measures that have already been taken to ensure the well-being of workers and the commitment to collaborate with organizations to solve any problem that migrant workers face.”
SENEGAL
Salesian missionaries in Tambacounda, Senegal, have opened the Beteya Guinar Boutique to sell chickens. The boutique is the result of a collaborative project promoted by the Don Bosco 2000 Association and co-funded by the Don Bosco Works in the World Foundations in Lugano and Milan, Italy.
The boutique is the culmination of work to create a supply chain for the production and sale of locally raised chickens in the projects facilitated by the Don Bosco 2000 Association. Part of the strategy to combat irregular migration, the boutique provided three Senegalese youth at-risk of emigration with an opportunity for training in Italy and a stable job upon their return to Senegal.
During the opening of the boutique, Father Giovanni D’Andrea, provincial of the Salesians in Sicily, stressed the importance of projects like this one for sustainable development of local communities. Agostino Sella, president of the Don Bosco 2000 Association, highlighted the success achieved in making the project economically self-sufficient. Through the model, the youth participating in the project are able to independently manage the sale of chickens, guaranteeing a stable future for themselves and their families.
A Salesian explained, “The Beteya Guinar Boutique offers high-quality products. In addition, the initiative has introduced innovative forms of sales such as spit chicken, which has already met with great success among local consumers. Don Bosco 2000 Association will continue supporting similar projects in other regions of Senegal, contributing to the economic and social development of the country.”
SIERRA LEONE
Don Bosco Fambul in Freetown, one of Sierra Leone’s leading child-welfare organizations, has added staffing support thanks to a grant from the Flora Family Foundation secured by Salesian Missions. The Flora Family Foundation was established in 1998 by the family of William R. Hewlett (co-founder of the Hewlett-Packard Company) and his wife Flora Lamson Hewlett to support social progress, environmental well-being and cultural vibrancy.
Don Bosco Fambul provides a range of programs to help support youth who are living on the streets, girls who have faced sexual abuse, young women who have forced into prostitution and youth in trouble with the law. With the funding, Don Bosco Fambul was able to add a program manager, advocacy officer and communications officer.
Thanks to the staffing support, Don Bosco Fambul raised public awareness about child sexual exploitation and promoted its Child Line 525 for reporting child abuse and crimes committed against children. Through an advocacy campaign, Don Bosco Fambul staff educated the public about sex offenses, child rights, sexual exploitation and the consequences when these laws are broken. They also provided information on the channels by which the public can access justice in such cases.
TOGO
Salesian missionaries in Cinkassé, Togo, have a new vehicle to help them provide more outreach services to youth thanks to Salesian Missions. Salesians have 10 outstations that they need to travel to beyond the main parish, which requires reliable transportation. Prior to the donation, the Salesians had one old car that broke often. Most of the time, Salesians had to use a motorbike or public transport, which limited what they could provide.
A Salesian noted, “Through well-defined outreach programs for youth, especially the poorest among them, we provide education and support to help them acquire the life skills necessary for holistic development to become better people, good Christians and honest citizens. We appreciate the donors who have made travel to the outstations possible, so we can reach even more youth.”
The Salesian community in Cinkassé was established in 1991. It is located on the border with Burkina Faso. The conflict in Burkina Faso has brought a wave of migration of people to Cinkassé.
Salesians operate a junior school with 411 students, secondary school with the hostel for 235 students, agricultural training, a small health center, youth education programs and the Catholic parish. They also provide pastoral care for those displaced.
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About Salesian Missions USA
Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.