The Australian Sangha Association 2015 statement on Modern Day Slavery
The Australian Sangha Association (ASA) is a representative body of ordained Buddhist monks and nuns in all states of Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
Andrew Forrest the founder of the Walk Free Foundation is dedicated to bringing to the world’s attention the tragedy of modern slavery. He states that the “economic exploitation of our fellow human beings causes almost 30 million people to be enslaved, and for every day that we let this situation continue it is an assault on our common humanity.” Forrest’s recognition of the abhorrent practice of slavery directed him to contact such public figures as, His Holiness Pope Francis I, the Most Reverend Justin Welby the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mohamed Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand
Imam of Al-Azhar in Egypt. These leaders of religious and spiritual communities came together to lend their voices to the fight against slavery. His Holiness Pope Francis I describes modern slavery as a crime against humanity, the Most Reverend Justin Welby sees human trafficking as one of the great scandals and tragedies of our age and Mohamed Ahmed el-Tayeb explains that Islam prohibits the kidnapping of women and children. On 12 December 2013, a Fatwa was issued by the Al Azhar Al Sharif, Preaching and Opinion Committee in Alexandria, declaring modern slavery and human trafficking to be in contradiction to the teachings of the Qur’an. The Australian Sangha Association
applauds the efforts of these Christian and Muslim leaders who bring to our attention these crimes against humanity. And even though there is an array of Buddhist traditions, it is to be hoped that at some time in the foreseeable future, so too will Buddhist leaders come together and add their voices to this worthwhile cause.
http://www.gfn2020.org/about/
The size of the problem cannot be over-emphasised: the physical, economic and sexual exploitation of men, women and children condemns millions of people to dehumanisation and degradation.
There are almost 30 million people currently enslaved and being trafficked and the trafficking of persons is understood as:
“The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat, use of force or other means of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of
a position of vulnerability or of the receiving or giving of payment or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”
(Article 3 of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime).
http://www.gfn2020.org/legal-frameworks/
In June 2014 the Australian Government released a media statement that supports action against forced labour, human trafficking and slavery. And so joins the international community in supporting the adoption of a new International Labour Organisation Protocol. The Government acknowledges that even though Australia has strong legal protections to prevent and prosecute forced labour on our shores, it continues to be a significant problem for many countries, including in the Asia-Pacific
region. http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2014/jb_mr_140612b.aspx
An initiative by Andrew Forrest is the Walk Free Foundation, which has a mission to end modern slavery in our generation by mobilising a global activist movement that is enlisting business and working with government to drive change in those countries and industries bearing the greatest responsibility for slavery today. Just as the Walk Free Foundation wishes to engage business all around the world in the procurement of sustainable merchandise manufactured in an ethical manner, so too, can the Australian Buddhist community begin to identify what are the best practices for living in a balanced relationship with all of humanity. http://www.walkfreefoundation.org/
“Australia to stamp out supply chain slavery” (15 March 2013), Supply Management:
http://www.supplymanagement.com/news/2013/australia-to-stamp-out-supply-chain-slavery/
The Walk Free website provides a Global Slavery Index that provides a quantitative ranking of 162 countries around the world according to the estimated prevalence of slavery in the national population at a point in time. Australia ranks at 138 with an estimated 3,000 people being held in modern slavery as of 2013. For example, the Salvation Army reports that of 130 referrals received since their Safe House commenced, 34 have been for trafficking, sexual servitude, child trafficking or serious exploitation in the sex industry. “Submission No. 37, Inquiry into Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking. http://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=jfadt/slavery_people_trafficking/subs/sub%2037.pdf
The Guardian online has launched a project on modern-day slavery, investigating root causes and potential solutions. The Guardian is committed to promoting social justice around the world, and to using its journalism and its platforms to expose and oppose oppression wherever it exists. Their intention is to create a global forum that investigates both the root causes and potential solutions to modern slavery, elevates global public dialogue, builds alliances on the front lines, and spurs the public, policymakers and corporate leaders to action. Journalists have interviewed victims of the slave trade and they portray graphically the cost of enslavement on the vulnerable. Their stories can
be seen at:
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/series/modern-day-slavery-in-focus
The Guardian reports that slavery is a $32bn a year industry, it is a booming economy – a thriving business in human life that is difficult to trace and eradicate. So that we may know how many slaves work for us, the website Slavery Footprint has provided an easy questionnaire that gives a tally of slaves used in the production of the items we purchase. At the end of the questionnaire is a segment where a note can be sent to the provider of said goods.
http://slaveryfootprint.org/
With a combined communal effort, Forrest believes that modern slavery can be defeated. He and other world leaders have set the target for the elimination of slavery for the year 2020. With a global goal set for the elimination of slavery by 2020, the Australian Sangha Association would like to encourage Buddhist monasteries, monastics and lay members of Australia to show their support for this initiative.