Giving Voice to the Anti-Slavery Commitment of Religious in England and Wales

Editor: 25 November marks the start of the annual *16 Days Against Gender-Based Violence* global campaign, initiated in 1991 by the first Women's Global Leadership Institute at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA. MIA is among the many thousands of organisations that support this campaign.

Fittingly, this week we highlight the release of the Report ‘Threads of Solidarity’ by the Arise Foundation for the Conference of Religious of England and Wales (CoREW) on the anti-slavery commitment of religious women and men. The report highlights the inspiring work done by 172 members (144 women and 28 men) of 73 religious institutes working on the front line against slavery in England and Wales. Despite the breadth and longevity of anti-slavery work within religious communities,  this research is the first project to find out the extent of their work.

Said Kevin Bales CMG, Professor of Contemporary Slavery at the University of Nottingham, Co-Founder of the NGO Free the Slaves, ‘The crucial work of sisters and their frontline networks has been forgotten for too long. They give their lives to this cause. Supporting their vocational commitment is a no-brainer and a fantastic bargain for those who have the eyes to appreciate its change-making power.

We in the academic and policy communities have been saying for decades that we can’t defeat slavery without strengthening civil society. These sisters are quietly, steadfastly showing the way.'

As a result of the findings in this report, the Conference of Religious of England and Wales, the umbrella organisation for more than 250 religious institutes, has announced that it will set up a UK Network of Religious involved in anti slavery work.

The authors of the Report acknowledge Lynda Dearlove rsm, MBE, Board Member of ARISE, Founder and CEO of Women@ thewell ‘whose Vision paved the way for this project’…

Messages to: Lynda Dearlove rsm (GB Institute)