The Archbishop of Canterbury travelled to Rome this month to endorse the Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders against Modern Slavery prepared by the Global Freedom Network. Archbishop Justin Welby was joined by Pope Francis and representatives of Shia and Sunni Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Orthodox Christianity on 2 December 2014 in endorsing the declaration to end modern slavery by 2020. In an address before the signing, Archbishop Justin described today’s declaration as “a profoundly significant moment”. The leaders had gathered to “affirm a deep shared commitment for the liberation of those humiliated, abused and enslaved by their fellow-human beings,” he said. “As we make this solemn commitment today, my prayer is that we shall by God’s grace play a key role in ending the inhuman practices of modern slavery – practices that disfigure our world and obscure the image of God in men, women and children. We have the will, we have the common purpose, this can be done; may God bless our action together.”
