WORLD NEWS

Speaking in Stockholm, Sweden, on February 14-15, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit addressed the End Violence Solutions Summit, part of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.

Tveit is a member of the highest decision-making body of the Global Partnership, and the summit in Stockholm set out an urgent call to action, bringing together governments, the United Nations, civil society, the private sector, academics and children themselves to design and share bold solutions for preventing and responding to violence against children.

“Violence against children is the most serious and devastating attack on a human being’s dignity as given by God the creator,” said Tveit. “Therefore such violence is also a sin against God.”

“Churches of er a lot in response to the needs of children: education, health care, moral guidance and support to parenting, just to name a few examples. But there are also shortfalls and missed opportunities,” he added. “On behalf of the WCC, I am very pleased to announce that we commit to supporting our 348 member churches in their ef orts to prevent and respond to violence against children.”

At the summit, Tveit took a lead in highlighting the destructive ef ects of corporal punishment, l agging this as an area where both changes in attitudes and legislation are necessary, and where the churches can make a strong contribution.

“Our commitment to prevent and end violence against children responds to the preferential focus on children that we find in the teaching and practice of Jesus Christ,” he said.

”In March 2017 the WCC launched the Churches’ Commitments to Children, inviting the leaders of all our member churches to disseminate and discuss an action plan, including concrete measures to prevent and end violence against children.

“Responses received so far show a very high degree of readiness and enthusiasm for collaborative action by members of the WCC. Churches must be at the forefront of of ering care and protection for those who are most vulnerable among us.”

(WCC)