The International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

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[ePrayer – Pray for the FGM affected girls and women]

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The International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is observed on 6 February each year to raise awareness against this practice. All forms of FGM are harmful practices and violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. FGM has no known health benefits. On the contrary, it is associated with various short and long-term risks to both physical, mental and sexual health and well-being. FGM is affecting about 140 million girls and women, and more than 3 million girls are at risk every year. A special focus this year, is the worrying trend of some health-care providers are also the ones performing FGM, thus contributing to ‘legitimise’ and maintain the practice. [WHO, WNN]

Pray for the FGM affected girls and women:

  • Pray for total elimination of FGM, girls and women can free from this human rights violation;
  • Pray for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Real equality and justice can be achieved. 

Civil Registration Protect the Rights of Marginalised Groups

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[ePrayer – Pray for better civil registration system in Asia]

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Stronger civil registration systems are needed in Asia, home to 60 percent of the world’s population, to ensure the legal and human rights of all. Civil registration is the most basic requirement for individuals to establish legal identity and to formalise family relationships, and is thus a basic responsibility of the state. Without a legal identity, individuals may be deprived of the right of access to key public services such as health, education, social welfare and recourse to justice. Statistics show that only one quarter of the world’s seven billion inhabitants live in countries with registration systems that record births and death efficiently. 51 million children go unregistered each year globally, while in South Asia two out of three children are not registered at birth and thus have no official record of their names, family and place or date of birth. Birth certificates are crucial forms of social protection for vulnerable and marginalised groups such as people in poverty, and such registration can be an effective tool for preventing human trafficking and child marriages. [IRIN]

Pray for better civil registration system in Asia:

  • Pray that governments of Asian countries can take an active role to improve the civil registration system and remove the barriers such as geography, cultural differences, inadequate legal frameworks and provide funds for such changes;
  • Pray for public awareness towards the importance of civil registration and more marginalised group will get registered to protect their rights.

Remember the Caring Service to HIV Affected Children in Zimbabwe

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[ePrayer – Pray for HIV affected children in Zimbabwe]

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Praise the Lord, CEDAR has supported partner FACT’s child sponsorship over 10 years. 16 youth completed secondary school level, 7 have studied at polytechnic or vocational colleges, 4 are in universities. Partner has carried out SAVE model (‘S’ stands for safer sexual practices; ‘A’ stands for access to treatment; ‘V’ is voluntary testing and counselling services; ‘E’ focuses on empowerment) in combating AIDS for several years. Give thanks that the model has gradually got more affirmation among church leaders. However, the church support for HIV-infected/affected kids in some areas still need to increase. FACT needs to co-ordinate with the local churches there and will recruit 15 care-givers.

Pray for HIV affected children in Zimbabwe:

  • Thank God for the partnership between FACT and CEDAR to serve those HIV affected children and families in Zimbabwe for years, and that the children grow well;
  • Pray for God’s guidance and provision to partner’s ministry in different districts. Pray that more churches will respond and support to the need of HIV affected children and families.

Enhancing Disaster Preparedness and Management in Bangladesh

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[ePrayer – Pray for better disaster preparedness in Bangladesh]

Bangladesh is arguably the world’s most disaster prone country. Repeated disasters destroy the economic resource base of the poor people and drain out the economic potentials. In Bangladesh, the government Union Disaster Management Committees (UDMC) are the key players in risk reduction planning.  For more effective plannings, CEDAR’s partner World Concern Bangladesh organised a workshop with Nilgonj UDMC.  This workshop sought to help local government members take up their roles and responsibilities during normal time, warning period, and disaster and post-disaster period more effectively. Government members also requested refresher courses for UDMC quarterly.

Pray for better disaster preparedness in Bangladesh:

  • Pray that partner will have good partnership with Nilgonj UDMC to enhance its function on coordinating district disaster preparedness and management;
  • Partner is planning to reach and follow-up 3 UDMCs, to train 100 volunteers and 700 community people. May God help them to reach out to different clusters of people effectively.