In Romania, Children’s Day (Romanian: “Ziua Copilului”) is celebrated on June 1st. It is observed on the second Sunday of June in the United States and on other dates around the world. This day was established in 1925 by the World Conference for the Wellbeing of Children in Geneva, Switzerland. It is a day to bring awareness to the vulnerability of children to violence and to improve the welfare of children.
This month we lift our voices with others who are raising awareness. Children are especially vulnerable to traffickers around the world. As of 2021, children represent nearly 50 percent of identified trafficking victims in Romania (U.S. State Department).
We’ve seen it time and time again. Last year a partner agency in Eastern Europe came to us with the story of 35 trafficked women and girls in just one town. Children are groomed for exploitation early in life. Many are stuck in generational patterns, born into slavery. Others have parents who are involved in their abuse in the first place. We must do more than help them escape. We must prevent these horrors from ever occurring in the first place.
That’s why one key part of our strategy is creating a network of abolitionists in Europe and then around the world. Starting from the Sanctuary, we want to see freedom ripple outward. We are working on even more ways to share our knowledge and best practices with individuals and organizations that can help us end trafficking.
On this day, and every day, we must throw open the door to free children from being enslaved. Be the key. For children around the world.