World Meeting on Children’s Rights: Bring a smile to children suffering
On February 3, the Vatican will host the meeting with panelists pleading for children’s rights, including the Queen of Jordan and the former American vice-president Al Gore.
By Kielce Gussie
64 million primary school children are unable to take courses. 1 out of 3 children under the age of five faces extreme food poverty. 12 million girls were forced in children’s weddings in 2022 only.
Rather than staying in silence, Pope Francis has announced that he would devote a day to help and “protect millions of children who are always without rights, who live in precarious conditions, who are exploited and mistreated, and who undergo the dramatic consequences of wars ”.
Bring a smile to suffering children
On Tuesday, the Holy See press office published the calendar of the very first world meeting on children’s rights. Speaking during the press conference, Marco Impagliazzo, president of the community of Sant’Egidio, calls for this meeting “an event of hope”. He declares that “too many children die from war, violence, sexual exploitation and work”, and the pope wants to “make people smile”.
Devote a day to children
The global meeting of children’s rights will take place at the Vatican on February 3 on the theme: “Love them and protect them.” Pope Francis should open the event by welcoming 10 children from various countries, who should share a message with the Pope.
Seven panels will take place, each with a specific subject focused on the rights of children, including access to education, family rights, protection against violence and access to resources. Defenders around the world and horizons will come to Rome. The list includes Queen Rania al-Abdullah from Jordan; Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, CEO of Mary’s Meals; Kilash Satyarthi, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; And the former American vice-president, Al Gore.
A new era of crisis
This global meeting on children’s rights meets the growing challenges of millions of children faced every day. “The world is entering a new era of crisis for children; Climate change, inequalities and conflicts disrupt their lives and limit their future, ”reports a study by the United Nations Fund for Children.
Pope Francis reiterates this alarming declaration in his prayer intentions for the month of January: “Today, we are experiencing an educational disaster.” He maintains that all children and young people have the right to education, but around 250 million children do not have access to school “because of war, migration and poverty”.
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