Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) – All of Latin America is celebrating “the Day of Prayer and Action for Children,” promoted by the Latin American Bishops' Council (CELAM), the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), as well as support of UNICEF and UNESCO.
The initiative was launched by the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), who last May called for the November 20th celebration of the Day of Prayer and Action for Children, “as people from different confessions and religious traditions.” November 20 has been chosen as the date, because it is the anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and it is the Universal Children's Day. Thus, the GNRC invites religious leaders and institutions, educational institutions, and organizations working for children to come together in prayer and action to promote the well-being of boys and girls all over the world and make a difference in their lives.
In Brazil, they are also celebrating, from November 17-23, the Week of Prayer and Action for Children and Youth of Brazil and the World. The Children's Ministry in Brazil suggests that on this day families join in praying the prayer for children published for the occasion, by the GNRC and that interreligious activities be promoted, along with activities in the schools on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Moreover, the numerous volunteers of the Ministry are visiting homes during the month of November in order to spread awareness on this Day and distribute the prayer for children. They are also inviting all to participate in the national campaign for the right to civil birth registration, as “in Brazil, there are many people without this document.” On Monday, November 17, the first campaign took place. The next will be on December 19.
In Colombia, for example, on this day, a group of children will visit and prayer in 4 places of prayer belonging to different religions.
According to several reports on the Day, from the association “Manos Unidos” of Spain, there are 200 million children who work in precarious situations or settings not fit for children; each day, 27,000 children under 5 die from inevitable causes; in the last decade, 2 million children have died in armed conflict; 250,000 are used as child-soldiers; 70 million school-aged children do not attend school; in the world, there are 15 million children left orphans from AIDS. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2008)
