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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