Prayers for Peacemakers, 15 June
2017
On 12
June, the world commemorates the World Day Against Child Labour.* The focus of
this international observance is to raise awareness and strengthen efforts to
prevent child labour. According to the data of the International Labour
Organization, more than 168 million of children around the world are forced
into work that “deprives them of their childhood, their potential and
their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.”**
The
worst forms of child labour include slavery, trafficking, prostitution, work
involving serious health, mental and moral hazards, and forced participation in
armed conflicts. We might find causes of
child labour not only in wars, natural disasters and oppressive regimes but
also in the lack of social justice and access to education, health care and
community support.
Today,
let us pray for the children, especially those at risk of, or exposed to,
labour, violence, exploitation. Let us pray that all children around the world
may enjoy their childhood, personal development, safety and adequate access to
education, health, home and support. Let us pray for all those who work hard in
order to make the world a better place for children. Let us pray and
contemplate of what we ourselves can do to bring about more just, joyful and
loving future for the children of this world and of our communities.
Matthew 18: 1-6
In
that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in
the Kingdom of Heaven?” He called a little child to himself, and set him
in the midst of them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you turn, and
become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the
greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such little child in my
name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me
to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung
around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.
* https://www.ilo.org/ipec/Campaignandadvocacy/wdacl/lang–en/index.htm
