The 2010 World Day of Prayer and Action for Children unfolded with global celebrations last month as tens of thousands of people heard messages from their religious leaders urging the care, protection and well-being of children.

The Salesians of Don Bosco, a world-wide Roman Catholic religious order, has called on all its members to unite in celebrating the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children, an initiative promoted by the Global Network of Religions for Children.

November 16, 2010 -- More than 40 countries across the globe are celebrating the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children this week with observances aimed at improving life for the planet’s most disadvantaged women and children.

As we approach Universal Children's Day on 20 November,  we are reminded that the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) will turn 21.  The CRC has been ratified by every country in the world except two: Somalia and the United States of America. While a crucial participant in the decade long drafting process, the United States has still not ratified the document it was so instrumental in shaping.

This week, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is providing a final opportunity for interested US child right activists to sign on to a petition urging the US to join the global consensus and ratify this treat. For more details, click here.

If you sign on by 12 November, your name will be shared when the IRC presents this petition to the Obama Administration later this month.

World Day's Planning Committee members, Rabbi Hillel Athias-Robles, Mr. Kul Chandra Gautam, Mr. Jagannath Kandel Dr. Linda King and Prof. Anantanand Rambachan participated as panelists in the Round Table "Potentials and Pitfalls in Interfaith Dialogue for and with Children" held on 13 October in Chiba, Japan. Rev. Dr. Hans Ucko shared introductory remarks and Dr. Heidi Hadsell facilitated the panel discussion. The round table was held in conjunction of the 60th Anniversary of Myochikai, a Japanese Buddhist organization and the 20th Anniversary of the Arigatou International. 

The World Day of Prayer and Action for Children introduced its website on 22 October 2009. The website aims to provide variety of resources for those who are planning and organizing Day of Prayer and Action events around the world.

In 2008, the Day of Prayer and Action for Children was celebrated by the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) in countries as diverse as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belgium, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Israel, Jordan, Nepal, Panama, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Tanzania, and Zanzibar.