Human trafficking: Interfaith alliance forged

KARACHI: Eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking across the world by 2020 is the objective of a ground-breaking agreement announced on Monday at the Vatican. This agreement among representatives of major faiths inaugurates the Global Freedom Network (GFN) which also has the Walk Free Foundation as a major partner, said a press release. The memorandum of agreement and joint statement establishing the GFN had the following signatories. On behalf of Pope Francis, Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences, on behalf of the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Egypt Dr Mahmoud Azab, on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Reverend Sir David John Moxon, on behalf of the Walk Free Foundation Andrew Forrest, founder. The joint statement underscored called for urgent action by all faiths against modern slavery and human trafficking. GFN will invite leaders of other faiths to join and support this initiative, the press release said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2014.