Are we serious about our forgotten children?
Internationally known for his innovative approaches to poverty, Vincentian priest Fr. Pedro Opeka, CM, has released a dramatic reminder of the continuing plight one billion children under the age of 18.
Fr. Opeka is known as the Apostle to the Garbage People in Madagascar and has received the French legion of Merit award.
The following is a free translation of his appeal.
Each year, two events remind us of our duties with respect to the children: June is dedicated to the children, and the World Day of of Children on November 20 in memory of the International Convention of the rights of the Child of 1989.
These celebrations are repeated with speeches filled with good intentions and resolutions. But do we really see that the life of the children in our poor countries improves?
In January 2008, UNICEF was delighted by the reduction of infant mortality in the last 5 years. But can we be satisfied this happy report?
Today, a billion children under the age of 18 (more half of the children of planet) suffer from extreme deprivations related to poverty, wars and HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and famine. There is also the lack of decent housing and family life (abandoned children or orphans); poor access schools and health care, not to mention forced labor and prostitution and children as military conscripts.
Every day we need to speak about the human rights registered in the Universal Declaration of the human rights which specifies that “childhood is entitled to a special help and assistance†and the media bring back to us the inhumanity of the life of million children in the world.
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Engineers can invent new technologies and, recently, many countries have fortunately started to fight against global warming, pollution and the wasting of non-renewable energies. All proves the human capacity to humanize the Earth.
But in the world, leaders, engineers and economists are unable to invest massively and to act judiciously to fight extremely, quickly and daily against poverty so that the human rights and those of the children are a reality.
However, the goodwill to combat the poverty with few means runs up against the indifference of the persons in charge and the affluent who do not contribute to their actions. Why, if it is not owing to lack of morals and political and financial courage?
In spite of this dramatic and scandalous state, I want to testify to the courage of the many poor and to suggest humbly fthat Madagascar, starting from a difficult place, discharge two axes concrete of actions which would help them.
Here, the every day, I see young people – girls proud of their maternity given up by the irresponsible father and who do not have employment to provide for them. I moms and grandmothers giving the little which they have for these teenagers and their young children. These women act for the rights of the child! Their admirable dignity must awake the deadened consciences and encourage them to be linked with them to develop a fraternal nation, socially and economically.
We will not build our development by leaving the poor in exclusion, particularly the children! Truly let us make live ias blood relatives: because the future will be in the hands of our children, we must be concerned with them materially, intellectually and spiritually. Each one can act in its district and all together (State, families, UN, churches and leaders economic) let us act in all the Country. I invite the Public authorities and all the components of the civil company to conclude a pact to act jointly against poverty by:
Programming of public financial assistance (national and international) and private intended for UN approved humanitarians, based on objectives and obligations of results which will be evaluated by independent authorities;
The implementation by all the media, the schools and the cultural and sporting events of a national program of moral education and citizenship of the teenagers so that they become aware of the consequences of an irresponsible sexuality for their own life and that their children put at the world without love and future.
It is not a dream! We can implement this Council Resolution of the government, adopted on May 31, 2005: “Together, let us ensure the rights of each child for nutrition, health, education and protection. †That will not arrive all alone: that requires sacrifice and effort. It is possible if we want it!
Tags: Advocacy, Health, Poverty Analysis, Youth