2 December 2014: Amma & world faith leaders declared commitment to eradication of slavery

[CHRISTINA]

Amma & world faith leaders declared commitment to eradication of slavery

The declaration will underline that 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, and must be recognised as such by everyone and by all nations. They will affirm their common commitment to inspiring spiritual and practical action by all faiths and people of goodwill everywhere to eradicate modern slavery.

The event is being organized and conducted by the Global Freedom Network (GFN). According to GFN research almost 36 million people have are currently trapped in modern slavery, having lost their freedom and being exploited for personal or commercial gain.

According to the International Labour Organization, the total profits obtained from the use of forced labour in the private economy worldwide amount to $150 billion U.S. per year.

In addition to Amma, the signatories were:

• Catholic: His Holiness Pope Francis 
• Buddhist: Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay)) (represented by Venerable Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong) 
• Budddhist: The Most Ven. Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana, Chief High Priest of Malaysia 
• Jewish: Rabbi Dr. Abraham Skorka 
• Jewish: Chief Rf Rabbi David Rosen, KSG, CBE 
• Orthodox: His All-Holiness Ecumeniccal Patriarch Bartholomew (represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France) 
• Muslim: Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of AAl-Azhar (represented by Dr. Abbas Abdalla Abbas Soliman, Undersecretary of State of Al Azhar Alsharif) 
• Muslim: Grand Ayatollah Mohammaad Taqi al-Modarresi 
• Muslim: Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Husssain al Najafi (represented by Sheikh Naziyah Razzaq Jaafar, Special advisor of Grand Ayatollah) 
• Muslim: Sheikh Omar Abboud 
• Anglican: Most Revd and Right Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

A number of leaders from international organisations, including GFN partner Andrew Forrest of the Walk Free Foundation, civil society organisations and businesses witnessed the signing of the declaration on December 2.

Here's a video of the 
Signing of the Declaration against Slavery

A live stream of the ceremony is available on amritapuri.org