Faith-based digital influencers in Burkina Faso are launching a campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking, following a recent crackdown on a trafficking ring that kidnapped 160 young people. The initiative, spearheaded by the Pan-African Catholic Network for Theology and Pastoral Care, aims to educate vulnerable populations and leverage social media to counter recruitment efforts by traffickers.
“Crises and conflicts create conditions of vulnerability and hardship. When people in a country or continent lose hope, they become willing to believe in any opportunity that offers a glimmer of hope,” Dayamba Bindré Roger, a sociology doctoral student leading the initiative told La Croix International’s Davy Soma in an interview. “Many victims of trafficking—and even terrorist recruits—are now being targeted through social media. This is why faith-based digital influencers play a crucial role,” he said.
The campaign begins February 8 with conferences and digital outreach efforts targeting young people and government authorities. Organizers also plan to establish a center to provide long-term support for at-risk youth. The initiative aligns with the Catholic Church’s observance of Saint Josephine Bakhita’s feast day, honoring a former slave-turned-nun.
La Croix International: In what situations is the issue of human trafficking most pressing?
Dayamba Bindré Roger: Human trafficking permeates almost every aspect of social life, particularly in the labor sector. Some individuals are forced into labor, children are exploited and abused, and women are subjected to sexual exploitation. People seeking jobs and better living conditions are also vulnerable. Ultimately, vulnerability is the core of the problem.
Unfortunately, wars and conflicts drive large-scale displacement, leaving people in search of refuge. In areas affected by terrorism, young people and children are often abducted and forced to fight against their own country.
Another alarming and tragic reality is the situation of internally displaced persons. As they flee their homes, leaving behind their possessions and land, they become highly vulnerable. In their host communities, they are willing to do anything just to survive, making them easy prey for traffickers who exploit their desperation through manipulation and corruption.
Why is it important to launch this awareness campaign on February 8 in Burkina Faso?
Just a few weeks ago in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, the national police dismantled a trafficking network that had kidnapped 160 young people of various nationalities. This demonstrates how widespread the issue is and underscores the importance of our initiative.
Crises and conflicts create conditions of vulnerability and hardship. When people in a country or continent lose hope, they become willing to believe in any opportunity that offers a glimmer of hope. Many victims of trafficking—and even terrorist recruits—are now being targeted through social media. This is why faith-based digital influencers play a crucial role in the awareness campaign we are launching on February 8. This event marks the beginning of a series of initiatives.
As members of the Pan-African Catholic Network for Theology and Pastoral Care, we aim to answer the call of the Jubilee Year by bringing hope to the hopeless. Additionally, the Catholic Church celebrates Saint Josephine Bakhita on February 8. She was enslaved at a young age but later became a nun, making her a powerful symbol in the fight against human trafficking.
What are your objectives, and how will this day unfold?
Our goal is to raise public awareness—especially among young people, vulnerable individuals, and government authorities—about the realities of human trafficking. We aim to involve youth in advocacy efforts and foster awareness on both national and pan-African levels. Additionally, we seek to propose both short- and long-term solutions to combat this issue.
Through our network of faith-based influencers, we will conduct digital awareness campaigns while also mobilizing young people within our communities, particularly those involved in Catholic Action movements. To this end, we are collaborating with Burkina Faso’s National Catholic Youth Council.
In Ouagadougou, our event will take place at the Cardinal Paul Zoungrana National Center. The scheduled conferences—both in-person and online—will bring together over 200 young participants to discuss human trafficking in Burkina Faso and Africa, the Catholic Church’s stance on the issue, and ongoing government and institutional efforts to combat trafficking. The role of the national police in preventing and prosecuting trafficking-related crimes will also be highlighted.
In the long run, the network envisions establishing a center that will provide concrete support for young girls and boys at risk.
Reproduced with permission by La Croix International.
