On February 22, Canadians observe Canada’s National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, a poignant call to address sexual exploitation—a grave human rights violation that deeply harms women, girls, and children.
The Working Group on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Canada of the Commission on Justice and Peace offers an ecumenical response grounded in faith, prayer, advocacy, and compassionate action to uphold the sacred dignity of every person as created in God’s image.
This day arrives on the first Sunday of Lent 2026, a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that invites us to quiet repentance, solidarity with those who suffer, and freedom from injustice, mirroring Christ’s tender care for the vulnerable.
The Gospel invites us to approach these challenging realities with humble courage: Jesus cleared the Temple of profiteers (John 2:13-16) and reminded us: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sister of mine, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40). Guided by this, we prayerfully commit to listening to survivors, addressing roots like poverty and dehumanization, and seeking healing for all affected.
We invite churches, communities, and governments to join in mindful awareness and shared action toward a Canada free from exploitation.
Gracious God, as we begin this Lenten journey, we lift up all those whose lives are wounded by sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
In this moment of silence, we commit to being a people of ‘humble courage’—listening to the voices of survivors, holding exploiters to account, and working to uproot the poverty and dehumanization that fuel this injustice.
May our prayers today lead us toward compassionate action, ensuring that every person is treated with the sacred dignity they deserve as your image-bearers. Amen.
Penny Rankin and Nancy Brown
Co-Chairs
The Working Group on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Canada
Commission on Justice and Peace
The Canadian Council of Churches