“Yesterday, I was honored to participate in an historic moment in the fight to end the scourge of modern day slavery. Hosted by Pope Francis at the Vatican, some of the world’s most prominent religious leaders from the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths came together to sign a declaration that commits the signatories to do everything in their power, within their faith communities, to free the people enslaved in the world by 2020.
“We, the undersigned, are gathered here today for a historic initiative to inspire spiritual and practical action by all global faiths and people of good will everywhere to eradicate modern slavery across the world by 2020 and for all time.
In the eyes of God*, 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.
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, innovation and technology to achieve this human and moral imperative.”
Modern slavery, under which tens of millions of people suffer in the world today, is a practice that knows few boundaries and cuts across all religious traditions. To witness these leaders speak with one voice and commit to cooperation to end slavery was an extraordinary moment of solidarity in the history of the world, and one for which I am profoundly thankful.
In an age where each day seems to bring new stories of despair, this moment inspired a renewed sense of hope that despair is not the destiny of humanity.”
The entire declaration can be found here: www.globalfreedomnetwork.org/declaration/
Photo courtesy of the Global Freedom Network.
Text Source: http://humanityunited.org/