Leaders of major religions unite for children

(Left-right) UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy; Reverend Takeyasu Miyamoto (President of Myochi-kai); Ms. Jayashree Athavale-Talwalkar (of Tattwajnana Vidyapeeth); and H. E. Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo (Chairman of the Pontifical Council on the Child and Family) join other participants in a moment of prayer at the symposium.

7 May 2002, NEW YORK - Leaders of the world's major faiths gathered today to express their commitment to improving the lives of children everywhere. Representatives from Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and various sects of Christianity came together in a symposium organized by the New York-based World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP).

"As representatives of world religions we speak with a common voice," said Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General of WCRP and moderator of the symposium, reading from a declaration made on behalf of symposium participants to the President of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Han Seung-soo. "Religious leaders are the frontline actors in children's lives. Our capacities for action are substantial. Almost five of the 6 billion people in the world are religious. Religious communities have the largest social infrastructure for human care. We are uniquely positioned to promote the four priorities for children as outlined in the Outcome Document."

Four young people made statements calling for support for those four priorities. Johan Thelander, 13, from Sweden, said that promoting healthy lives is crucial. Doing anything less, he said, is "a violation of every child's right to survival and development."

Beata Lovinoz, 13, from Hungary, asked religious leaders to help provide young people with a quality education. "Education is a key factor in reducing child poverty and child labour," she said.

Moe Nagahama, a nine-year-old from Japan, called on the global community to protect children from abuse, violence and exploitation. "When a child is exploited, it hurts them very much," she said. "Please treat us right. We need a lot of love."

Mariana Meditsch, 17, from Brazil, implored leaders to help combat HIV/AIDS. "In Brazil," said Mariana, "We need more homes for AIDS orphans. And in the world we need to ensure non-discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS and their children."

In speech after speech, religious leaders from all parts of the world affirmed their support for these priorities and for the dignity of children. They called on members of their communities to build an inter-faith partnership with civil society organizations and UN agencies to ensure that every child is loved and cared for.

"Every child is a gift from God and every child has a touch of divinity," said Jayashree Athavale-Talwalkar from Tattwajnana Vidyapeeth, a Hindu organization.

Dr. Maher Hathout, a representative of Al-Azhar University in Egypt, said that in Islam children are viewed as the "harbinger of the future, the joy of the present and a reminder of our past."

"Our humanity brings us together," said Grand Rabbi Sirat of the Conference of European Rabbis.

Msgr. Carlos X. Belo, Bishop of Dili, East Timor and a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, spoke of his childhood. "I have experienced the suffering of children," said Bishop Belo, who as a child worked day and night as a shepherd in East Timor. "They are the hope of the world and we must open our minds to them."