Western Australian mining magnate Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest visited the Vatican overnight to launch the Global Freedom Network, a new partnership between the major faiths which aims to eradicate slavery across the world.

Representatives from the Anglican, Catholic and Muslim world were present to endorse the Networks’ aim to rid the world of slavery by the end of the decade. Forrest, a Christian, has found support from the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar University in Cairo (the heart of the Sunni Islam) and Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church.

While there are numerous not for profits-both religious and secular-dedicated to the abolition of slavery, this is the first time Catholics, Anglicans and Muslims have come together on the issue. But then, it’s not everyday a man ranked 270th on the Forbes World Rich List wields his influence to make it happen.

In a statement to the media, Andrew Forrest invited leaders from all major faiths to join the Leadership Council of the GFN. “I appeal to all faiths and denominations of the world, to all governments and people of goodwill everywhere: Please join the Global Freedom Network!”

Announcing the agreement at the Vatican overnight, Forrest made the bold claim that it was “the first time Anglican and Catholic representatives have come together in such a comprehensive agreement since the Reformation.”

Calling slavery “a crime against humanity”, he said the Network would focus on “engaging businesses to clean up supply chains and governments to enforce the laws that make slavery illegal.”

Forrest’s interest in the fight against slavery began after his daughter volunteered to work at an orphanage in Nepal where she discovered the orphanage was grooming the children to be sold into sex slavery. Since that time, Forrest has been actively involved in campaigning against slavery, having launched the Walk Free Foundation in 2012 and the Global Slavery Index in 2013. The Global Freedom Network is the next move in his plan to see an end to modern slavery.

In a statement on his website, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby applauded the inter-faith agreement and spoke of the need for unity to accomplish the difficult task of dismantling a secretive, illegal, global network.

“The more we share the pain and oppression of the poor and suffering in the name of God, the more God will draw us closer to each other, because we will need each other’s strength and support to make the kind of difference that is needed.

“We are struggling against evil in secret places and in deeply entrenched networks of malice and cruelty. No one of us is strong enough, but together we are ready for the challenge God is placing before us today, and we know that he will strengthen us so that all people may live in freedom and dignity.”

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