The Council for World Mission (CWM) held a global consultation on modern-day slavery in Bangkok, Thailand from 16-20 November.
The consultation, attended by over 45 international participants, including activists, academics, and member church representatives, explored various contemporary challenges that churches and organisations face as they seek to unravel the debilitating effects that slavery inflicts on present-day communities.
In addition, the event interwove theological insights, such as Bible studies and devotions, with practical perspectives, including on-the-ground realities and efforts by churches and nongovernmental organisations to eradicate modern-day slavery.
In his opening address, Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, General Secretary of CWM, introduced The Onesimus Project to the participants, and call for radical discipleship, urging an increased demand for justice and proactive work in uncovering and ending the root causes of modern-day slavery.
Persistence of modern-day slavery
A keynote address was delivered by Prof. Dr Verene A. Shepherd, Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Shepherd presented a message on the persistence of slavery in today’s world, and its global prevalence. Going against the conventional idea that slavery is a thing of the past, Shepherd brought forth a grim reminder that slavery is a very real and ongoing phenomena.
Prof. Dr Sarojini Nadar, Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, drew parallels between the experiences of trafficked women today and the unnamed women in Esther 2.
Nadar gave a theological critique of gendered trafficking through the lens of this scripture, highlighting how patriarchal structures and theological interpretations have historically justified the systemic erasure of women, a pattern that continues today. She then proceeded to challenge participants to critically examine contemporary theological doctrines that contribute to systems of oppression and to lead efforts to educate others.
Consumption and climate injustice
Dr Sudipta Singh, Deputy General Secretary of CWM, in his speech to participants, urged them to reflect on their consumption choices and to give thought about the supply chains behind these choices.
It was, Singh stressed, important to take personal responsibility to avoid unknowingly being complicit with modern-day slavery through poorly informed consumption choices.
Following Singh’s presentation, Prof. Dr George Zachariah led a discussion on how the climate crisis has pushed marginalised communities even further into exploitative conditions.
“The real climate crisis is not just about rising global temperatures but most importantly, about climate injustice—where millions are driven into poverty, displacement, and dangerous migration, exacerbating their vulnerability to modern-day slavery,” Zachariah emphasised.
Threat of slavery to basic human rights
Participants also engaged in deep conversations that critically examined the structures contributing to modern-day slavery, including climate change, anti-migration policies, rightwing ideologies, discrimination based on work and descent, forced labour, and informal employment practices.
The fruit of these discussions was the collective understanding that modern-day slavery does not exist in isolation but is often facilitated and exacerbated by unjust conditions.
Paul Divakar, a human rights activist and advocate for Dalit rights, highlighted how mental narratives that perceive some as lesser human beings perpetuate discrimination and lead to enslavement.
Divakar pinpointed the realities of manual scavenging, child labour, forced labour, and bonded labour in South Asia, where many victims are from Dalit communities, as being a clear example of the link between identity, discrimination, and slavery.
Dr Faustina Pereira, an international human rights lawyer and gender and development specialist, addressed the vulnerabilities of workers in informal labour sectors. These workers often lack basic legal protections and access to justice. She urged churches to respond with humility and strength, and to play their role in safeguarding the inherent dignity of all human beings.
Participants also heard from organisations like the Mwagale Foundation and Hagar International, which are actively working to eradicate modern-day slavery, as well as from churches sharing their experiences of addressing modern-day slavery in their communities.
The consultation concluded with a statement opposing modern-day slavery and reiterating the call on churches, individuals, missional, and social organizations to prioritise victims’ voices, raise awareness of modern-day slavery and its root causes, support and empower victims and survivors, engage in collaborative partnerships, and most importantly, to live as people of hope who labour towards the freedom of the enslaved and marginalised.
Click here to read the full statement.
