Between the 5 and 8 May 2018, Dr Nadia Delicata from the Faculty of Theology participated in the international forum ‘Old Problems in the New World’ on modern slavery. Convened in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the event brought together distinguished practitioners, policymakers, theologians, and scholars from around the world to explore the myriad dimensions of the scourge of modern slavery.
The forum was structured around three panels, beginning with the theological foundations for understanding the Christian responsibility to eliminate all forms of enslavement of the human person. The second panel identified the distinct and interconnected manifestations of modern slavery, including human trafficking and smuggling, sexual exploitation, human supply chains, and the public health impacts of those practices. The final panel of faith-based organizations presented their programs and initiatives aimed at responding to the needs of victims and those vulnerable to modern slavery.
Held under the auspices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the forum opened with video messages from Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, and produced ‘A Common Declaration of Unity against the Sin of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery’.