World Day Observance in Liberia

In Liberia, with support from UNICEF, the Religions for Peace affiliated Inter Religious Council and its partners organized a “Candle Lighting” event in observance of the World Day of Prayer and Action for Childrenthat brought together the Liberia Council of Churches, the Liberia National Muslim Council, government ministries, and civil society organizations. The candle lighting ceremonies, which were organized in many communities, were meant to shed light on the hidden forms of abuse and exploitation children suffer and end the silence surrounding these abuses. Other events commemorating the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children included a joint press release by religious leaders that outlined measures to protect vulnerable children in their faith communities and a series of radio talk shows moderated by children that featured discussions with religious leaders on their role to protect children from abuse and exploitation. A joint training was conducted by the Ministry of Education, the Inter Religious Council, national gender-based violence task force and the Children’s Parliament to train peer educators among media institutions on the dissemination of key messages for the general public.