“Every single religion originated with compassion and I believe that the only thread that can unite the world is the compassion of children. Religious leaders have vital role in this cause to protect the innocence of children. I refuse to accept that your collective voice is unable to check this crime” — Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi
Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net
New Delhi, July 6: In a first, leaders of all major religions jointly pledged to run an all-India movement against child abuse. At a program organized by Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation on Thursday, they extended their support to “Safe Childhood Safe India” movement going to be started in the mid of August this year.
At the call of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, 27 religious and community leaders had gathered at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi.
“Child sexual abuse till yet is a hidden cancer in the society. This is not a small thing when thousands of such cases happen every day. Killing of innocence is the killing of our religions and constitution. A child should not be subjected to victimization due to poverty,” Satyarthi said in his opening remarks at the event.
“According to a latest report, 56% children below age 18 are sexually abused every year. Last year only 1% culprits were convicted in such crimes and 99% could not be convicted,” he said.
“Which religion would condone such crime? How can we allow this? Can we simply leave it to NGOs, Police, Politics etc.,” he questioned.
Emphasizing the importance of religious leaders Satyarthi said, “Every single religion originated with compassion and I believe that the only thread that can unite the world is the compassion of children. Religious leaders have vital role in this cause to protect the innocence of children. I refuse to accept that your collective voice is unable to check this crime.”
“If India is a land of hundreds of problems, it is also the motherland of one billion solutions too. Once we all raise voice then this country will become paradise. I want that collective voices be raised from all worship places for this cause. Let us create a culture of brotherhood, sisterhood and humanity, so childhood and society may become free of fear,” he appealed.
Informing about the coming movement he said: “Safe Children Safe Childhood will be launched probably on 16th August where Prime Minister to Chief Ministers along with teachers and religious organizations will also participate. Many public awakening Yatras will be started from all the corners of the country to finally merge at Delhi.”
The religious and community leaders who participated in the program included Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s Secretary General Mohammad Salim Engineer, All India Imam Organization’s President Dr. Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Archbishop of Anglican Church of India, Parmarth Niketan Ashram’s Swami Adityananda Saraswati and Pramjit Singh Chandok of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. They all decided to utilize worship places to make the movement successful.
Extending his support Salim Engineer said, “Almighty is closer and more acquainted with us than we are with ourselves. We would not achieve anything till we submit ourselves to the will of God. Violence whether against any man or child must not accepted. Every year lacs of children are killed due to feticide but our society is silent over it because all good doers people are unorganized and wrong doers are organized. Islam says: don’t kill your child due to poverty.”
“This is also the duty of the governments as we chose the governments as our representative. Govt must implement law and check violence and crime,” he averred.
Swami Adityananda Saraswati also extended her support to the movement.
