Who Celebrates the World Day?
World Day Observance in the Dominican Republic
Activity Recap
In the Dominican Republic, different faith-based communities, civil society organizations as well as children and adolescents, came together for the worldwide DPAC celebration organized by the GNRC and other organizations that work for children’s rights.
The celebration of the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children (DPAC) was organized by the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), Children with Don Bosco, World Vision, Volunteers International for Development (VIS), and the NGO Coalition for Children on the evening of November 17, 2011, at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo.
The 70 attendees included 15 children and adolescents representing 20 different faith-based communities. The focus of the commemoration was the need to eradicate violence against children, and eliminate corporal punishment, promoting assertive discipline applied with love and not violence.
The masters of ceremonies were two adolescents, who were accompanied by a string trio. Silvia Mazzarelli, VIS Representative for the Dominican Republic gave the introductory speech, followed by a special moment to read an interfaith prayer for children that had been prepared by representatives of different faith-based communities. This prayer was then distributed to NGOs and other grassroots communities that work with children, to be distributed throughout the whole country.
Next an “Interfaith Declaration for the Good Treatment of Children and Adolescents” was read and signed by the authorities and representatives of different faith-based communities. (To read the original Spanish text of the Declaration click here) and it was later presented to Marta Santos Pais, Special UN Envoy on Violence Against Children, and Tilza Ares Head of the National Council for Children and Adolescents, at a December 1st UN meeting on Violence Against Children.
Original report prepared by Silvia Mazzarelli (VIS Rep. Dom.)
Keywords: Colombia, Latin America, GNRC, Menonite, Buddhism, Baha’i, Christianity, Muslim, Judaism, UNICEF, faith based organization, fbo, education, violence against children, Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam
