WHAT are FREEDOM DAYs?
At the close of 2014 a number of world faith leaders including Argentine Rabbi Dr Abraham Skorka, Pope Francis, Archbishop Welby, Iraqi Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi and Zen Master Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong signed an historic declaration aimed at tackling human trafficking and modern slavery. It stated that everyone is born with dignity and freedom, and anything that injured that was an “abhorrent crime against humanity”.
STOP THE TRAFFIK is not a faith based organisation but many of our members are and we believe that the world’s faith communities must demonstrate a united and tangible response against human trafficking. Together we must raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking and show the world our compassion for men, women and children who are trafficked and exploited around the world. This heinous crime must not be tolerated. We must prevent the physical, emotional and sexual abuse it causes.
Through Freedom Days, faith communities are invited to make commitments to take action to prevent the crime of human trafficking and its abuse in our local and global communities. The resources have been prepared with for the weekend closest to the 30th July, The United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Communities can choose any day which works for them.
Together, let’s stop human trafficking and let’s start freedom.
I Will
We invite you to use the inspiring clip produced by film-maker Suzanne Kim.
On a research trip a few years ago with STOP THE TRAFFIK, I met a young human trafficking survivor who bravely shared her story of survival and her determination to reclaim her life, re-write her story and take back ownership of her own narrative. She didn’t ask for sympathy and kindly allowed me to pass on her story , one of building hope through love, courage and dignity. 'I Will' is my short visual interpretation of her story. (Suzanne Kim, 2017)
2018 Resources for Christian Churches
Together let's stop human trafficking and slavery and start freedom. Faith communities are invited to make commitments to take action to prevent the crime of human trafficking in our local and global communities. (3 minute version)
Together let's stop human trafficking and slavery and start freedom. Faith communities are invited to make commitments to take action to prevent the crime of human trafficking in our local and global communities. (5 minute version)
“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 and fraternity. 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.”
Pope Francis, Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma), Venerable Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong (representing Zen Master Thích Nhat Hanh), The Most Ven. Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana, Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Skorka, Rabbi Dr. David Rosen, Dr. Abbas Abdalla Abbas Soliman, Undersecretary of State of Al Azhar Alsharif (representing Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al- Azhar), Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi, Sheikh Naziyah Razzaq Jaafar, Special advisor of Grand Ayatollah (representing Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain al Najafi), Sheikh Omar Abboud, Most Revd and Right Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France (representing His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew)
A quote from the Global Freedom Network Faith Leaders declaration www.globalfreedomnetwork.org/declaration