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Innocent Children, Victims of Aggression
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In 1983, the United Nations General Assembly declared that June 4 every year would be the International Day of Innocent Children, Victims of Aggression. This was in connection with the never-ending decades of war between Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. Ultimate victims of war are the children who live in fear and insecurity. Bombing destroys school buildings, hospitals, churches and mosques besides houses and fields.
The children have no safe environment, no opportunity for education, healthy physical and psychological development
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Although June 4 would be over by the time you read this, it is important that we deepen our awareness and concern for this problem. I searched the web the other day and was shocked at the data presented regarding the tragedy of child abuse and neglect worldwide.
Whereas the declaration was primarily to protest the Israeli Military Forces aggression against the Palestinians, the United Nations have expanded the awareness to protection of rights of children all over the world.
To begin with, let me inform you that there are now 50 Million people uprooted because of armed conflict – certainly, half of that 50 M are children. Over 2 M children have been killed in conflict this past decade. In 87 countries, there are still 60 million land mines rendering 10,000 people maimed and disabled every year. Child soldiers being taught how to combat and carry artillery number over 300,000 youth. Among them are girls being used in sexual slavery by the enemy forces or by their own older soldiers.
The United Nations requested $13.5 Billion for emergency relief funds but only $9 B has been given, a far less amount being spent in maintaining military forces and arsenals.
Sale of children for pornography is well known to us – this is part of sex trafficking with the Philippines among the countries where internet or cyberporn is a lucrative business.
HIV AIDS is one of the greatest threat to children. It has killed more than 3.8 M children and 13 M have been orphaned in Africa, Thailand, China and other Asian countries.
A depressing fact is that 10 M children die every year due to preventable diseases and malnutrition. Every year too, there are 40 M children not registered at birth, thus they have no legal name, citizenship or status.
Above all, there are 50 M induced abortions every year – 50 M babies not given the opportunity to be born and have a birthday. In the Philippines, there is an estimated 400,000 abortions every year. This does not include the babies lost due to the use of contraceptive pills and injectables, the IUD and other abortifacient drugs and devices.
The contraceptive mentality (sex anytime but no baby, so promote contraceptives, ligation or abortion) has created the unwanted child mentality. Children who should not have been born because the parents were contracepting or attempted abortion grow up constantly feeling rejected, thus exhibiting withdrawn and rebellious behavior.
There is such a spirit of violence and animosity among peoples in society now that unless we strive to educate each other in peace and non-violent efforts, there will be no place on earth where children will once again run around and play in security and laughter.
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