UNICEF in Sudan urges religious leaders to pray for children
November 19, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Sudan Nils Kastberg called on religious leaders to pray for the children in the country to mark the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“It is important for organizations like UNICEF to work more closely with religious groups,” Kastberg said.
“Faith-based organizations are often able to reach deprived and marginalized children when others can’t. They can also help create awareness amongst their congregations about children’s rights and needs,” he added.
The World Day of Prayer and Action for Children is part of a worldwide initiative launched by the Global Network of Religions for Children in collaboration with UNICEF.
The objective of the day is to encourage all religions and faith-based groups to join in A Day of Prayer and Action for Children in every house of worship in all communities.
In a document distributed to religious leaders across Sudan, UNICEF has appealed to them to pray for peace.
“Children are the best asset that any country has. They are the future, but for them to have a future, we must safeguard their present now,” it said.
“The most important thing for Sudan is lasting peace. It is the only way to ensure a bright future for the country’s children in the north, south, east and west”.
Sudan has emerged from a 20 years long war between North and South in 2005 but another conflict erupted in Western region of Darfur. Both conflicts took a heavy toll on the vulnerable population including children.
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Loi Bai
UNICEF in Sudan urges religious leaders to pray for children
Well, I appreciate the UNICEF’s call for the group leaders to pray for the children of Sudan. Also it is good that UNICEF recognizes the power of such community groups and their ability to reach those children who need help the most. However, there are such groups in Sudan who work with children in grassroots level and who lack support from the UNICEF and other UN organization such as the World FOOD Programme (WFP). In South Sudan for example, the support from the above organizations seems to be politically attached. I mean, in most cases unless the GOSS or states governments recommend a charity it would not be supported. With wide suppression of women in South Sudan, it is likely that their (women) led charities are always neglected. Women are most likely then men to take extra mile to bring up through education the living standard of children and other venerable people. Yet their support from these UN agencies is insufficient. I must congratulate the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) for bypassing the political ranks and reaching down to those they think need help. I call on all the agencies who work in South Sudan including the UNICEF, UNDP, WFP etc to make their own assessment of who needs what and not to rely on the Government or the recommendation of important individuals.