Indian leaders unite to ‘end slavery in a generation’

TEN religious leaders in India have signed a declaration aspiring to end modern slavery in a generation. The Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jewish, Jain, and Zoroastrian representatives came together at the initiative of the Global Freedom Network, an interfaith group launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Francis last year (News, 21 March 2014). India is reckoned to have 14 million people deprived of their freedom.

Japanese Churches warn against militarism and racism

TWENTY Japanese Churches, including the Anglican Episcopal Church in Japan, have demanded that the Japanese authorities take responsibility for historic war crimes and outlaw discrimination against ethnic minorities. A declaration was agreed after an international conference on minority issues and mission in Tokyo last month. Attempts to deny the scale of Japan’s atrocities during the Second World War are contributing to increasing anti-foreigner sentiment, the Churches state. They also confess that they “stood aside” and watched as minorities suffered in the past.

Wednesday, 9 December, first day for genocide victims

ELEVEN anti-genocide organisations have declared that the job of ending crimes against humanity is not finished. The UN’s first annual international day to commemorate the victims of genocide was held on Wednesday.

Primate of Nigeria urges calm after Biafra violence

THE Primate of Nigeria, the Most Revd Nicholas Okoh, has called for peace and “cordial co-existence” after Biafran-separatist protests last week. Demonstrators for the secession of the south-eastern region that was declared the state of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 attacked businesses and places of worship and blocked roads during protests. The Primate said that the Government needed to put a stop to a “national embarrassment”.

Archbishop Hiltz robbed during visit to Brazil

MEN stole rings, wallets, and phones at gunpoint from the Primate of Canada, the Most Revd Fred Hiltz, after he and companions visited a church in Belem in Northern Brazil. He said, however, that, though he was shaken, he was able to leave Brazil; others lived with this threat every day.