Modern slavery is a way to describe the coercion and human trafficking of 12-30 million people worldwide. It includes people who are forced into involuntary servitude, debt bondage, peonage or commercial sex acts. Victims of modern slavery give up their labor to our complex global economy, while their oppression is largely invisible.

According to the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, God has created human beings in the divine image (Genesis 1:26-31) and made for relationship with God, to live in peace with each other, and to take care of the rest of creation. When we care for people who are oppressed and work to end violence against them, we show that we are people of God.

MMA is pursuing shareholder actions against practices of modern slavery as a way to follow Christ and care for the most vulnerable among us. Many industries benefit from modern slavery at some point in their supply chain, and MMA plans to address a number of these industries in the coming year. The following issue areas will likely provide MMA with opportunities for corporate engagement on this topic:

* Mining industries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (human rights atrocities, profits fuel ethnic and political warfare)
* Cotton in Uzbekistan (forced child labor)
* Cocoa production in West Africa (child labor, forced labor)
* Iron production in South America (slave labor)
* Sex trafficking in Asia (child sex tourism and trafficking)
* Auto parts supply chain (forced labor)