LONDON: Three of the world’s top religious leaders – Pope Francis of the Vatican, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Grand Imam of Al Azhar Dr Mahmoud Azab have joined hands in the biggest ever push to eradicate modern day slavery and human trafficking in India by 2020.This is the first time in history that the global Christian and Islamic leadership — with a reach of over 3 billion people have joined hands for a common cause. A significant part of the campaign by this new Global Freedom Network launched on Monday will be to rid India of both these modern ills.According to the recent Global Slavery Index released in 2013, India was ranked 4th worst country indulging in modern day slavery and human trafficking. India, the report states, exhibits the full spectrum of different forms of modern slavery, from severe forms of inter-generational bonded labour across various industries to the worst forms of child labour, commercial sexual exploitation and forced and servile marriage.The formidable challenge, it said, is the enormity of the problem, both in number of trafficked persons and increasing number of locations. An estimated 20 to 65 million Indian citizens are believed to be in forced labour within India as a result of debt bondage.The World Bank estimated in 2012 that 32.7% of Indians lived below the international poverty line of less than $1.25/day (PPP). Poverty and India's caste system are significant contributing factors to its modern slavery problem. The index found that between 13,300,000 and 14,700,000 are enslaved in India. This means India is home to nearly half of the world’s entire number of 30 million slaves worldwide.India stands fourth as per proportion but right on top of this shameful list when it comes to absolute numbers. The Network launched on Monday has been initiated by Walk Free Foundation’s founder - Australian billionaire philanthropist Andrew Forrest.The religious leaders will use their clout to make their supply chains and investments modern slavery-proof besides mobilising their youth sections to support programmes to eradicate the practises.Families, schools, universities, congregations and institutions will be educated on the nature of modern slavery and human trafficking, how to report it and the destructiveness of harmful social attitudes and prejudices. Around 50 major multi-national businesses whose CEOs are people of faith will commit to modern slavery-proof their supply chains.Around 162 governments will publicly endorse the establishment of the Global Fund to End Slavery, with 30 heads of state publicly endorsing it by the end of 2014. The G20 will condemn modern slavery and human trafficking and adopt an anti-slavery and human trafficking initiative and support a Global Fund.India is among the top 10 countries of origin for poor people who are trafficked into Britain. The International Labour Organisation estimates that the profits of traffickers worldwide are in excess of $32 billion each year.The joint statement released by the Network signatories said "The physical, economic and sexual exploitation of men, women and children condemns 30 million people to dehumanization and degradation. Every day we let this tragic situation continue is a grievous assault on our common humanity and a shameful affront to the consciences of all people. Any indifference to those suffering exploitation must cease. We call to action all people of faith and their leaders, all governments and people of goodwill, to join the movement against modern slavery and human trafficking and support the Global Freedom Network".It added "This evil is manmade and can be overcome by faith-inspired human will and human effort. The Network will take up the instruments of faith – prayer, fasting and almsgiving. There will be a world day of prayer for the victims and for their freedom. Everyone of faith will be requested to join in reflection and action. Dedicated prayer networks will be formed in all parts of the world".