Work together in Africa’s respective groups and societies to “freedom for all enslaved persons and victims of human trafficking.” This is the promise of 14 African religious leaders who signed the “Joint Statement on the Boycott of Modern Slaves” in Accra, Ghana.
(Vatican News Network)African religious leaders signed the “Joint Statement on the Boycott of Modern Slaves” in early August. This is an initiative of the Global Freedom Network. This is an inter-religious coalition, with the support of the Walk Free Foundation in Australia, working to combat human trafficking. The signing of the joint declaration against modern slavery took place after the World Anti-Human Trafficking Day on July 30.
The Accra Declaration was signed by the major religious representatives of the four African countries, namely Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria. Due to the new crown epidemic, the National Interreligious Committee of South Africa and the Interreligious Committee of Kenya failed to attend the signing ceremony, but expressed their support for the joint statement. Among the signatories is Father Lazarus Anondee, Secretary General of the Bishops’ Conference of Ghana. He stated that human trafficking is “a particularly abominable crime because it exploits and abuses others for profit.” During the signing ceremony, the key role played by religious leaders in fighting this problem that affects tens of millions of people around the world was emphasized.
The “Joint Statement of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slaves” signed in Accra is the eighth joint statement signed by major religious leaders since 2014. The first joint declaration was signed at the Vatican in 2014. Pope Francis, leaders of different religions and important representatives of other Christian churches, including the chief bishop of the Anglican Church, Archbishop Verby, attended the signing ceremony.
The goal of this boycott of modern slavery is to establish an international cross-religious network to mobilize groups of different faiths to resist various forms of slavery, from prostitution to forced labor to organ trafficking. Other goals include promoting business ethics, improving assistance to victims and survivors, and raising social awareness and raising funds.
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