Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and Pope Francis joined with those marking the day by tweeting that God wants women to be “free and [have] their dignity respected.”
The defense of women’s dignity has been an important feature of Francis’ pontificate.
In this effort, he has placed a lot of attention on the fight against human trafficking, which especially victimizes women and children.
Related: Francis Has Taken Church’s Effort to Stop Human Trafficking to ‘Another Level’
During one of the Friday of Mercy visits of the Jubilee Year, he visited a house for women rescued from prostitution.
Earlier this month, he told TV2000 that that visit had particularly affected him, mentioning one of the women from Africa. “She was pregnant; not only did she suffer exploitation, but she was also subjected to beatings and torture.” He noted how she gave birth alone, in winter, on the street and how one day they cut <this woman’s ear> because she had not earned enough.
Last year on this International Day, he met in the Casa Santa Marta with 11 women and six children from a Refuge House for victims of domestic violence and trafficking for the purposes of prostitution.
