RELIGION: An open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury highlights the need for consistency in historical repentance and present-day justice
I write following your recent visit to Ghana and Cameroon, where you reaffirmed the Church of England’s commitment to addressing the legacy of slavery and your support for the £100 million Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice.
Acknowledging the suffering caused by slavery and the historic role of institutions, including parts of the Church, in systems of exploitation is an important moral step. However, repentance cannot only be about remembering the injustices of the past. It must also require confronting exploitation that continues today.
The Church of England cannot condemn historical slavery while remaining silent about modern systems that allow children and vulnerable workers to be exploited in global supply chains.
For more than a decade, I have investigated child labour and exploitation in global supply chains. My work has convinced me that many corporations, investors and institutions have failed to adequately address the exploitation hidden behind everyday products.
