AFRICA/GHANA - At the end of Cape Coast Seminar African and European Bishops call for new international economic order to end to new forms of slavery

Cape Coast (Agenzia Fides)- ''New forms of slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, child soldiers, prostitution, etc., are due mainly to the enormous economic gap between rich and poor countries and between the rich and the poor in any given society” the Catholic Bishops of Africa and Europe affirm in a statement at the end of a Seminar “I know the sufferings of my people” (Es. 3, 7). Slavery and new forms of slavery”, promoted by the CCEE (Council of European Bishops' Conferences and SECAM. Symposium of Bishops' Conferences of Africa and Madagascar - (see Fides 7, 14, 15, 16 and 19 November 2007). The Seminar was held in Cape Coast, Ghana, from the 13 to 18 of November.
In the statement sent to Fides, the African and European Bishops said “to bridge the gap it is necessary to achieve a new international economic order that guarantees a more equitable distribution of the resources of the world”. They added that it was important to do away with the desire to dominate others and the culture of slavery and servitude”.
The Bishops of the two continents will have their next meeting in Liverpool, England, in November 2008. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 21/11/2007 righe 13 parole 165)