Fwd: No. 27468: Africa: WCC Appreciates Religious Leaders' Declaration for the Eradication of Slavery -- Interfaith Relations

AfricaFiles

Title: Africa: WCC Appreciates Religious Leaders' Declaration for the Eradication of Slavery
Author: WCC
Category: Interfaith Relations
Date: 12/8/2014
Source: WCC
Source Website: http://allafrica.com/

African Charter Article# 2: Everyone shall enjoy these rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind.

Summary & Comment: " This Conference was organized by the Global Freedom Network, a global religion-based network...Pope Francis spoke...signatories were from the Catholic and two WCC member churches: Anglican and Orthodox, with Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim leaders who signed a joint declaration of commitment against modern slavery...[one kind is] human trafficking which scandalously turns women and children, who are made in the image of God, into sexual and labour commodities...20.9 million women, men and children are trapped in forced labour worldwide." JK

http://allafrica.com/stories/201412082818.html?aa_source=nwsltr-religion-en

A declaration issued on 2 December by religious leaders calling for the eradication of slavery has prompted an expression of appreciation from the World Council of Churches (WCC). The declaration, issued at the Vatican, brings together signatories from the Catholic and two WCC member churches: Anglican and Orthodox, with Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim leaders who signed a joint declaration of commitment against modern slavery.

"Each human being is a free person, whether girl, boy, woman or man, and is destined to exist for the good of all in equality and fraternity. Modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labour and prostitution, organ trafficking, and 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," reads the declaration.

Dr Fulata Mbano-Moyo, the WCC's programme executive for Women in Church and Society, who was present at the event, said, "human trafficking scandalously turns women and children, who are made in the image of God, into sexual and labour commodities." She added that the "WCC is one of the voices calling for an end to all forms of slavery".

"The WCC has accompanied civil rights movement in the USA and black theologians against the apartheid struggle, as well as initiating programmes to combat racism. Continuing this legacy, we hope to mobilize churches to turn this declaration into a reality," said Moyo.

She also expressed admiration for women religious leaders from Hindu and Buddhist traditions among signatories. She said that participation of women leaders is crucial in accomplishing the vision of eradicating human slavery from the world.

Moyo invited the WCC member churches to sign the joint declaration if they have not already done so. She encouraged them to support the process of freeing women, men and children whose dignity has been violated and being used as commodities.

The catalyst behind this meeting, welcoming Pope Francis, the Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi, Mata Amritanandamayi (a Hindu spiritual leader), and the venerable Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong (representing the Zen Master Zen Thich Nhat Hanh), is the Global Freedom Network, a global religion-based network.

In his address, Pope Francis said, "We are gathered here today for an historical initiative and to take concrete action: to declare that we will work together to eradicate the terrible scourge of modern slavery in all its forms. The physical, economic, sexual and psychological exploitation of men, women and children that is currently inflicted on tens of millions of people constitutes a form of dehumanization and humiliation".

"The new Global Freedom Network is being created to join the struggle against modern slavery and human trafficking from a faith base, so that we might witness to God's compassion and act for the benefit of those who are abducted, enslaved and abused in this terrible crime," said Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, primate of the Church of England, a founding member church of the WCC.

According to International Labour Organization estimates some 20.9 million women, men and children are trapped in forced labour worldwide. The estimate captures the full realm of human trafficking or for labour and sexual exploitation, or "modern-day slavery".

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the AfricaFiles' editors and network members. They are included in our material as a reflection of a diversity of views and a variety of issues. Material written specifically for AfricaFiles may be edited for length, clarity or inaccuracies.

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