As we progress through Lent, we reflect on how the words and actions of Pope Francis find expression through our Good Shepherd mission and invite you to action, advocacy, or prayer.
This week, our focus turns to girls and women trapped in situations of prostitution — a deeply entrenched form of violence and modern slavery that denies the dignity and value of human life.
In Evangelii Gaudium (2013), Pope Francis denounces prostitution as a form of violence and oppression. He has repeatedly described prostitution as not a choice but a consequence of exploitation, poverty, and coercion and called for urgent action against this “shameful crime” that dehumanizes individuals.
Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd takes a clear position on girls and women in situations of prostitution, declaring that it is never aligned with the concept of decent work and must not be treated as an acceptable labor practice. Instead, these girls and women must be seen as victims of exploitation, deserving of support and opportunities to step into a life of freedom, through healing, empowerment, and reintegration.
A Call to Action
This Lent, let us commit to a society free from prostitution. By standing in solidarity with such girls and women, we reflect the spirit and actions of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who stood against the societal norms of his time by offering hope, redemption and opportunities for a new path in life.
At the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which is currently taking place at the UN in New York (March 10 to 21, 2025), our Good Shepherd International Justice and Peace (GSIJP) team is standing alongside global advocates working to uphold the rights and dignity of girls and women everywhere.
As a signatory to the Beijing+30 commitment to survivors, GSIJP on behalf of the Congregation, renews our commitment to survivors as a global ally against the exploitative system of prostitution.
What action will you take today to be an instrument of change?
