Delegates of the 5th Talitha Kum Asia Conference vowed to strengthen collaboration to combat human trafficking, which Pope Francis has described as “a gaping wound in the body of contemporary society, a crime against humanity.”
The conference took place amid mass demonstrations in Indonesia, bringing together coordinators, women religious, and youth ambassadors of Talitha Kum, the international network founded in 2009 under the Union of International Superiors General (UISG).
The event focused on strengthening networks, promoting survivor leadership, and engaging the younger generation in prevention efforts.
The gathering opened with a Mass led by Fr. Agustinus Heri Wibowo, head of the Archdiocese of Jakarta’s Justice and Peace Commission, followed by a Betawi cultural dance and a symbolic procession against trafficking.
Sr. Paula Kwandao Phonprasertruksa SPC, Asia coordinator from Thailand, outlined the conference goals of “strengthening networks, embracing the spirit of the Jubilee Year, and encouraging the involvement of the younger generation.”
Sr. Abby Avelino MM, international coordinator, stressed “the importance of ending the practice of treating people as commodities.”
Delegates reported new challenges fueling trafficking, including the misuse of digital platforms, climate-related displacement, and forced migration.
The Youth Ambassador Program, now expanding globally, was highlighted as a key prevention tool among young people.
The assembly identified three priorities: addressing systemic causes such as inequality and exploitation; empowering survivors to become leaders; and fostering interfaith and institutional collaboration with youth, local groups, and governments.
Sessions also drew insights from Fratelli Tutti and Laudato Si’, alongside survivor testimonies and community-based strategies that fed into a three-year action plan.
Jakarta youth joined Talitha Kum’s ambassadors in an interfaith gathering to design prevention strategies for their countries.
The event closed with a thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo and a cultural night. – Danang Kurniawan contributed to this report
