Many individuals, particularly Christians and those of Irish descent, commemorated March 17 as the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. This celebration honors the virtues he introduced to what was once an unchristianized land around the year 410. The festivities included processions, video tributes, lectures, and exchanging shamrocks—a emblem symbolic of Ireland—to honor this event.
As I mentioned earlier, the life, teachings, and actions of Saint Patrick demonstrated that he was an exemplary spiritual guide. His bravery and conviction that honesty, fighting for fairness, and caring for one’s neighbors could triumph over negative circumstances deeply motivated numerous individuals. He managed to convert both the Celtic leaders and their followers, as well as those who had once enslaved him, guiding them toward genuine Christian lifestyles marked by respect for all humans’ worth.
When Patrick was 16 years old, he fell into the hands of human traffickers approximately around 410 AD. These kidnappers sailed across the Irish Sea to Wales aiming to find individuals they could abduct and sell into slavery. After capturing him, they transported Patrick to Ireland where he became enslaved; tasked with watching over herds of cattle and flocks of goats. Living alone amidst harsh conditions—brutal winter chills and scorching summer heats—with minimal protection and devoid of company, away from his loving kinfolk, marked much of this period of his existence. It’s worth noting that his dad served as a deacon whereas his granddad held the position of a priest.
He placed his faith in God, with Jesus of Nazareth as both his confidant and ally, particularly throughout his isolated times. This provided him strength and motivation, urging him to flee. He had been ensnared by human trafficking, an ordinary transgression back then which unfortunately still lingers in our present era.
During this period, Patrick acquired the ability to converse in Irish. After enduring six years as a slave, he managed to flee and traversed the entire length of Ireland, moving from the northernmost part to the southern tip. He then boarded a vessel bound for mainland Europe, probably earning his fare through work aboard the ship. Following this voyage, he reached Wales. For someone just turning twenty, this constituted an exceptionally bold and valiant escape towards liberty.
Currently, approximately 160 million children worldwide are engaged in some form of work. Among them, about 79 million undertake hazardous jobs, as stated in a United Nations report. Regarding the situation in the Philippines, the UN Children’s Fund reports: “A significant number of children fall victim to trafficking for sexual exploitation—estimates suggest between 60,000 to 100,000 minors participate in prostitution networks within the country. Child prostitution rates peak notably around tourist zones. Additionally, an unspecified quantity of youth endure abusive working conditions.”
The United Nations report stated that key factors contributing to child trafficking in the Philippines include poverty, insufficient economic growth within source communities, gender imbalances, scarce job prospects, availability and accessibility of public facilities such as roads, schools, and healthcare centers, sizable household sizes, lack of understanding among families about related risks, and exploitation through sex tourism.
Children who engage in labor get minimal schooling and earn very little money; often they aren’t paid at all and instead receive only food. Chances are high that your Asian-made garments were crafted with the help of these young workers. It has been alleged that a prominent UK company offers clothing produced in Myanmar, where kids as young as 14 can put in up to 12-hour shifts daily, claims a Swedish publication titled “Fashion Slaves.”
Child sexual exploitation—whether online or offline—is the gravest form of forced labor imaginable. These victims can be as tender as just four years old. This kind of exploitation severely harms the child’s psyche and soul, strips them of their sense of self, diminishes their worth, and steals their dignity. Besides being subjected to physical, sexual, and psychological maltreatment from traffickers, guardians, and predators, these children also face health risks.
Children who face abuse at home from family members endure significant pain and feel helpless against such mistreatment. Once these kids manage to escape by running away to the streets, they frequently fall into the hands of traffickers. Established back in 1974, the Preda Foundation has rescued, treated, and provided education to more than 1,530 youngsters incarcerated due to life as street children and false accusations regarding drug use.
Starting from 1996, Preda social workers have provided healing and empowerment to countless child victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. They also run prevention education initiatives aimed at students, parents, educators, and other key individuals responsible for safeguarding children’s welfare.
For far too long, the reprehensible acts of child abuse and human trafficking, particularly those occurring online, have persisted unchallenged due to indifferent government officials over several decades. Although stricter anti-trafficking and anti-child abuse legislation has been enacted recently, enforcement remains inadequate. According to the U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report from 2023, Philippine courts managed to convict just 86 individuals involved in child trafficking—83 for sexual exploitation and three for forced labor. However, through their dedicated legal team, the Preda Foundation secured convictions against 27 perpetrators of trafficking and child abuse in 2024, resulting predominantly in life sentences.
Many years after breaking free from enslavement, Saint Patrick was ordained as a priest and embarked on a mission to Ireland. There he convinced the country’s pagan rulers, elites, and populace to embrace concepts of human worth and fairness, ultimately putting an end to slavery. They followed his guidance. Through this effort, Saint Patrick rescued countless individuals from bondage, and so can we. Today’s call for action urges each one of us to combat modern-day injustices like human trafficking, mistreatment, and the exploitation of migrant workers.
Over the last fifteen years, countless migrant children have vanished upon reaching Europe. A probe found out that more than 18,000 kids were unaccounted for just from 2018 through 2020. We’re called to challenge those who harmfully take advantage of minors and permit mistreatment within religious institutions and communities. Remaining silent and inactive regarding maltreated children equates to an endorsement of their suffering. As Saint James put forth, genuine belief requires deeds; true faith involves aiding the impoverished and oppressed, standing up against wickedness, and holding onto hope that positive change will eventually prevail.
