Modern slavery is a broad term that encompasses various forms of exploitation and forced labor, in which individuals are deprived of their freedom and coerced into working or marrying against their will. Although today’s victims are not openly enslaved as they were in centuries past, millions of people still face a more subtle form of slavery — and, for the most part, their suffering goes unnoticed.
Myanmar is reeling following the huge earthquake which hit the country on Friday, 28 March. The 7.7 magnitude tremor was felt elsewhere, including in Thailand and south-west China.
More than 2,700 people have died and more than 4,500 have been injured, say the leaders of Myanmar’s military government. Those figures are expected to rise. In Thailand, at least 21 people lost their lives.
Religions for Peace urges our global community to join us in extending their generosity to help recover lives and restore hope in Myanmar and in the areas of Thailand affected by the natural disaster.
For Christian communities facing hostility, dialogue represents both principled witness and practical wisdom. By engaging other faiths respectfully while maintaining a clear identity, Christians fulfill their calling to be salt and light. They create conditions where persecution becomes less likely and stand for human dignity, justice, peace, and creation care in ways that transform not just individual lives but entire societies. The path forward requires courage, commitment, and creativity — moving beyond platitudes to meaningful engagement with religious difference. In a world where isolation breeds conflict, dialogue offers a pathway toward reconciliation, renewal, and restoration of our broken world.
The Relational Remedy Framework for peer support was created by Survivor Connections in response to the need for a relational approach to recovery from experiences of modern slavery.
It recognises the unique capacity that survivors have to stand in solidarity with their peers. We learned that walking together can complement traditional service-recipient models, by providing the mutuality and reciprocity needed for relational healing.
Peers support providers draw on their lived experience to offer empathy and expertise. They help survivors navigate the challenges of accessing and engaging with service systems. A Webinar in supporting peer-led systems will be offered on 7th April 2025.
“Ambassadors of Hope: Together Against Human Trafficking” is the theme chosen for the 11th edition of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, which is celebrated every year on February 8. There will be an online Marathon of Prayer (Friday, February 7 from 11:30 am to 4 pm) CET – people are invited to join in this prayer, especially in their own Region.
The 2024 Climate Change Conference will begin in Azerbaijan on November 11. On each day, Prayers and Meditations will be held for the welfare of our Earth and for the welfare of all who have suffered the impact of climate extremes. We will pray for our Earth, we will pray for our Cities, we will pray for our forests, and we will pray for all life-forms on Earth and in the Seas. The weekly prayers up to 5 November have been exceedingly well supported. Now, we continue for the duration of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, daily. All welcome to join.
Australia is a member of the Asian Conference on Religion and Peace (RfP Asia). Asia Pacific Women of Faith Network has been pursuing Human Trafficking as a moral issue for all Asian religions, a project which commenced in 2021. RfP Australia has also conducted events relating to Human Trafficking. On 27 September, there was an Online Workshop which considered (among other matters) the evil of human trafficking, particularly in the Asia-Pacific regio. A report of this workshop is offered.
Religions for Peace Asia is pleased to announce that Religions for Peace Philippines, BYU International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy and Uniharmony Partners Manila will hold “Interfaith Forum on Women, Peace, and Security” on October 28th, 2024 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Manila Time).
Catholics from China, Vietnam and Malaysia who attended Pope Francis’ September 12 Mass in Singapore are hoping the pontiff might also become the first pope to visit their respectives countries, as well.
In anticipation of Pope Francis’ Sept. 11-13 visit to Singapore, scholars and religious practitioners gathered for a conference there on Aug. 29-30 to discuss the Catholic Church’s contributions to interreligious relations.
In a historic encounter at Asia’s largest mosque, Pope Francis and Indonesian grand imam Nasaruddin Umar signed a joint declaration on Sept. 5 calling on religious leaders to deepen their cooperation in order to defend human dignity and fight climate change.