Indian religious leaders vowed on Thursday to use their influence to end modern slavery, saying the exploitation, abuse and confinement of millions of men, women and children around the world was a "crime against God."
Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Jain and Baha'i leaders and representatives signed a declaration, organized by the Australia-based Global Freedom Network, pledging to help eradicate slavery and human trafficking by 2020.
Some 16 million slaves — nearly half the global total of around 36 million — live in India, according to a survey by the Walk Free Foundation, a sister organization of the Network.