On Tuesday, faith leaders in Kenya signed a declaration to end modern-day slavery, joining counterparts in the DRC, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Ghana.
The commitment represents a collective effort to fight an injustice that affects millions worldwide.
The Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) Chairman Reverend Father Joseph Mutie emphasized the gravity of the issue, stating, "One person in slavery is one too many, but 188,000 currently living under slavery in our country is a world we like to ask, why is that so?"
IRCK Executive Director Abdirahman Ismael highlighted the prevalence of modern slavery, often involving cheap or abusive labor, and vowed to use faith leaders' unique position to address the root causes and eradicate the vice.
Global Freedom Network Director Franca Pellegrini noted the crucial role faith leaders play in guiding their communities, and the launch of the Faith For Freedom smartphone app aims to support them in tackling modern slavery.
The declaration signing marked the ninth such event since 2014, when Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Taqi al-Modarresi joined other faith leaders in declaring the eradication of modern slavery.
