Vatican City, Dec 1 (IANS): The Global Freedom Network (GFN) Tuesday is slated to bring together religious leaders in the Vatican City to form an initiative to eradicate modern slavery by the year 2020.

They will sign the "Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders against Modern Slavery" to underline that modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labour and prostitution, organ trafficking, and any issue that fails to respect the fundamental conviction that all people are equal and have the same freedom and dignity, is a crime against humanity, and must be recognised as such by everyone and by all nations.

The leaders include Pope Francis, Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Abraham Skorka, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, GFN said in a statement Monday.

A number of leaders from international organisations, including GFN partner Andrew Forrest of the Walk Free Foundation, civil society organisations and businesses will witness the signing of the declaration.

GFN is a faith-based global network with a vision and purpose to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking throughout the world.