Anti-Slavery Events

2019 Events

To commemorate the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Trafficking in Persons on the feast day of St Josphine Bakhita (1869-1947) the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney Anti-Slavery Task Force sponsored an Ethical Sourcing Seminar and Expo.

Over 250 participants including suppliers of goods and services to the Catholic Church entities, government and business leaders came together to learn about new Modern Slavery legislation and what steps need to be taken to eradicate modern slavery.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher informed the gathering that the anti-slavery taskforce has in principle commitments throughout the archdiocese, from church agencies, education and healthcare providers, along with parish priests “to seek to remove the stain of slavery from our Archdiocesan procurement practices”.

Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia, Jennifer Westacott, made an impassioned plea on behalf of those “on the wrong side of the ledger; those with no control over their lives or their circumstances”.

Event Program – Ethical Sourcing Seminar and Expo

Key note addresses:

See also, the Catholic Weekly coverage of the anti-slavery seminar and church leadership:

Past Events
2018

On St Bakhita’s Day 8 February 2018 Archbishop Fisher issued a strong statement with 10 Recommendations including:

  • an anti-slavery supply chain strategy for Catholic agencies;
  • anti-slavery education and external engagement and
  • anti-slavery ethical purchasing.

This far-reaching framework, which is now being implemented, seeks to bring about change in the areas where the Church has the most capacity to do so.

Read the Archbishop’s Statement

Archbishop’s Homily For Mass For The Feast Of St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney

St Bakhita’s Day Prayer Card

Anti-Slavery Taskforce Recommendations

Anti-Slavery Taskforce Chair John McCarthy’s address at Rome Round Table: June 2018