World Vision launches campaign to end violence against children in Asia Pacific
COLOMBO (13 October 2017) – International aid agency World Vision launches its campaign to end violence against children in the Asia Pacific on October 16 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, featuring some of the country’s and region’s top policy leaders and child-rights activists.
“Asia carries the fatal mantle of having one of the world’s highest rates of violence inflicted on children,” said Abid Gulzar, World Vision’s Advocacy and Justice for Children Director in East Asia. “But it’s not enough to change laws and implement policies. We need to, most importantly, change hearts and minds. And for many worldwide, that journey starts with faith.”
A panel of faith leaders representing Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity will examine what more they can do to end violence against children. “We are honoured to join the stage with World Vision to reaffirm its message that it takes a world to end violence against children- starting here at home," said Moses Akash De Silva, a panellist and orphan-turned-youth pastor heading the Voice for the Voiceless Foundation Sri Lanka.
Youths from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh and Myanmar will share their views on the power and potential pitfalls of youth-led activism to end violence.
Sri Lanka is a “Pathfinder Country” (a leader in the movement to end violence) in the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children. Chandrani Senarathne, Secretary of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, is chief guest, while the keynote speaker will be Dr. Rinchen Chophel, Director General of the South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children.
The launch opens a forum held at the same venue that World Vision is co-organizing on “Localizing response to humanitarian need: The role of religious and faith-based organizations”.
World Vision is rolling out the “It takes a world to end violence against children” campaign with partners across 17 Asian countries with a focus on ending child marriage, sexual abuse, child trafficking, child labour, physical violence in schools and the home, and corporal punishment. Participating countries include: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Mongolia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
World Vision’s campaign supports Sustainable Development Goal 16.2 to “end the abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children”.
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Want to join? The event is public. Please register/email jeevaretnam_chryshanthan@wvi.org your name, affiliation.
Media contact/interview requests: Phuong_tran@wvi.org | +66870560077 (What’s App/cell)
Campaign background: Read more here. Sign your personal pledge here.
World Vision background: World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation committed to helping children enjoy life in all its fullness. In the Asia Pacific region, World Vision works in 17 countries in nearly 600 project areas. We serve 1.25 million children who are sponsored by donors, along with their families and communities.