World faith leaders vow to fight human trafficking
World religious leaders, for the first time in history, came together yesterday to join hands in declaring their commitment towards ending modern slavery and human trafficking by year 2020.
Signing the Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders against Modern Slavery at Casina Pio IV in Vatican City, were leaders from the Christian, Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu faiths.
The declaration underlined that modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labour and prostitution, organ trafficking as well as any relationship that fails to respect the fundamental conviction that all people are equal and have the same freedom and dignity, is a crime against humanity, and must be recognised as such by everyone and by all nations.
It also called for religious leaders to work together in spiritual and practical action to eradicate this crime.
The signatories were Pope Francis ( left ), representing the Catholic church, the Orthodox church represented by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and Anglican church by Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
For Islam, the representatives were Dr Abbas Abdalla Abbas Soliman, who was representing Grand Imam of Al Azhar Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi, Sheikh Naziyah Razzaq Jaafar, who was representing Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussian al Najafi and Sheikh Omar Abboud.
Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) represented the Hindu faith, while Venerable Bhikkhuni Trich Nu Chan Khong, who was representing Zen Master Trich Nhat Hanh and Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Venerable K Sri Dhammaratana represented the Buddhist faith. Rabbi Dr Abraham Skorka and Chief Rabbi David Rosen represented the Jewish faith.
"We pledge ourselves here today to do all in our power, within our faith communities and beyond, to work together for the freedom of all those who are enslaved and trafficked so that their future may be restored.
"Today we have the opportunity, awareness, wisdom, imnovation and technology to achieve this human and moral imperative," the signatories said in the joint declaration.
The event which was the result of an initiative by Global Freedom Network (GFN), also coincided with World Day for the Abolition of Slavery, observed on Dec 2 annually.
It was also witnessed by some 100 guests from religious bodies, governments and international organisations and civil society organisations.
35.8 mil people in slavery
According to www.GlobalSlaveryIndex.org, some 35.8 million people are forced to live in slavery around the world today.
The United Nations 2014 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons had reported that one in every three victims is a child while females account for 70 percent of trafficking victims.
GFN, which was founded in March this year, is a non-profit organisation that works to eradicate all kinds of slavery and human trafficking across the world by 2020.
It has identified six action plans towards achieving the goal.
They are engaging and mobilising faith-based communities to raise awareness on the issue; work with companies, governments and faith-based communities to promote ethical purchasing agreements and work with all religions to identify existing services and facilities to better support victims.
It will also lobby for governments to improve legislations, law enforcement and increase prosecution rates as well as advocating for a new and enhanced international legislation to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking; enhancing education and awareness programmes and set up a fund to carry out its activities.
- Bernama
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