- Common commitment to inspire spiritual and practical action by all world faiths and people of goodwill everywhere to eradicate modern slaveryVatican City, Tuesday, 2 December 2014 - Today, on the International Dayfor the Abolition of Slavery, the Global Freedom Network (GFN) has broughttogether leaders of the Christian Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox, as wellas Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim faiths who have jointly declared onecommon humanitarian endeavour: To eradicate modern slavery by 2020throughout our world and for all time as a crime against humanity.In a ceremonial act, a Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders againstModern Slavery was signed by: - Catholic: Pope Francis - Hindu: Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) - Buddhist: Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) (represented by Venerable Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong) - Buddhist: The Most Ven. Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana, Chief High Priest of Malaysia - Jewish: Rabbi Dr. Abraham Skorka - Jewish: Chief Rabbi David Rosen, KSG, CBE - Orthodox: His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France) - Muslim: Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar (represented by Dr. Abbas Abdalla Abbas Soliman, Undersecretary of State of Al Azhar Alsharif) - Muslim: Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi - Muslim: Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain 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 CanterburyA number of faith leaders spoke at the event and video messages were givenby His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and by Grand AyatollahSheikh Basheer Hussain al Najafi who could not attend the ceremony but areequally committed to eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking.Videos of the event are available on:http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7391151-faith-leaders-eradicate-slavery/ as well as on the GFN Website: http://www.globalfreedomnetwork.orgAs one of the founding partners of the Global Freedom Network, the WalkFree Foundation's Andrew Forrest, witnessed the historic event and calledfor international organisations and business leaders to join with faithleaders in the fight against modern slavery.This is the first time in history that the leaders of the ChristianCatholic, Anglican and Orthodox, as well as Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish andMuslim faiths have come together to jointly declare one common endeavouragainst slavery.Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders against Modern Slavery"We, the undersigned, are gathered here today for a historic initiative toinspire spiritual and practical action by all global faiths and people ofgood will everywhere to eradicate modern slavery across the world by 2020and 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 andfraternity. Modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labourand prostitution, organ trafficking, and any relationship that fails torespect the fundamental conviction that all people are equal and have thesame freedom and dignity, is a crime against humanity.We pledge ourselves here today to do all in our power, within our faithcommunities and beyond, to work together for the freedom of all those whoare enslaved and trafficked so that their future may be restored. Today wehave the opportunity, awareness, wisdom, innovation and technology toachieve this human and moral imperative."*The Grand Imam of Al Azhar uses the word "religions"For more information please visit: http://www.globalfreedomnetwork.orgProfessional images and videos are provided free of charge on the GFNwebsite: http://www.globalfreedomnetwork.org and onhttp://www.multivu.com/players/English/7391151-faith-leaders-eradicate-slavery/Please also visit our social media channels: Twitter @gfn2020 (#EndSlavery)About modern slaveryModern slavery is the systematic deprivation of a person's liberty, andabuse of his or her body, for example through mutilation or organ removal,for the purposes of personal or commercial exploitation. According to the2014 Global Slavery Index released by GFN's member partner Walk FreeFoundation, almost 36 million people are currently trapped in modernslavery. These are people who have lost their freedom and are beingexploited for personal or commercial gain. According to the InternationalLabour Organization the total profits obtained from the use of forcedlabour in the private economy worldwide amount to US$150 billion per year.The Global Freedom NetworkThe Global Freedom Network is a faith-based global network with a visionand purpose to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking throughoutour world and for all time. It was launched on 17 March 2014 at theVatican. The Memorandum of Agreement and Joint Statement establishing theGlobal Freedom Network had signatories from the Casina Pio IV, LambethPalace, Al Azhar Mosque and Walk Free Foundation.The Global Freedom Network has outlined six fields of action for achievingits vision. These include mobilising faith based communities, supply chainproofing to promote ethical purchasing arrangements, improving the care forvictims and survivors, advocating for law reforms and enforcement,facilitating and promoting education and awareness, and securing sizeablefunds in order to carry out its task.Press contactCNC - Communications & Network ConsultingMax Hohenbergmax.hohenberg@cnc-communications.com+49 172 899 6264Marie von Bismarck marie.bismarck@cnc-communications.com + 49 172 853 2927---------------------------------02.12.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - aservice of EQS Group AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.Media archive at http://www.dgap-medientreff.de and http://www.dgap.de---------------------------------301531 02.12.2014

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Global Freedom Network: World faith leaders signed Declaration to eradicate modern slavery