World Population Day 2013: Focus on Adolescent Pregnancy

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[ePrayer – Pray for development rights of adolescent girls]

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There are over 600 million girls in the world today, more than 500 million of them in developing countries. About 16 million girls under age 18 give birth each year. Another 3.2 million undergo unsafe abortions. The vast majority — 90 per cent — of the pregnant adolescents in the developing world are married. But for far too many of these girls, pregnancy has little to do with informed choice. Often it is a consequence of discrimination, rights violations (including child marriage), inadequate education or sexual coercion. Complications from pregnancy and child birth are the leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19. On World Population Day 2013, UN raises awareness of the issue of adolescent pregnancy in the hopes of delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. [UN]

Pray for development rights of adolescent girls:

  • Pray that the value and rights of girls will be truly recognised and legally protected.
  • Pray that adolescent girls can have their say on marriage, life development and pregnancy.

Two Years on, South Sudan Still Faces Major Challenges

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[ePrayer – Pray for South Sudan]

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South Sudan marks two years of independence on 9 July 2013, but the millions who continue to face displacement, hunger, disease and extreme poverty will be hard pressed to find any reason to celebrate.

Over the past two years, inter-communal violence and conflict between the rebels and Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have caused nearly 350,000 people displaced. Fighting in southern part of Sudan has forced over 220,000 people fleeing into South Sudan. In addition, nearly two million South Sudanese have returned home since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, and so the country is facing serious food shortage. Further, South Sudan is in dire need of trained health workers and health centres and the government has faced criticism over its poor human rights record, such as poor prison conditions, widespread child and forced marriage, arbitrary detention and deteriorating press freedom. [IRIN]

Pray for South Sudan:

  • Pray for peace and reconciliation in South Sudan;
  • Pray for timely food and medical relief, and for comprehensive and appropriate rehabilitation.

Call to End Impunity for Conflict-related Sexual Violence

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[ePrayer – Pray for the sexual violence in conflict]

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The UN’s Security Council sent a strong signal to perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict that their crimes will not be tolerated and the Council is adopting a new resolution to strengthen efforts to end impunity for a scourge that affects not only large numbers of women and girls but also men and boys. The new resolution emphasized more consistent and rigorous investigation and prosecution of sexual violence crimes as a central aspect of deterrence, and ultimately prevention. Today, it is still largely ‘cost-free’ to rape a woman, child or man in conflict. Angelina Jolie, the Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who emphasized that tackling war-zone sexual violence is the Council’s responsibility, as well as the duty of Governments in countries affected by it. She calls to set rape and sexual violence in conflict as a priority, and combat the crime. [UN News]

Pray for the sexual violence in conflict:

  • Pray that the Security Council will wisely utilise its authorities, address the sexual crimes in conflict, and coordinate the governments to end impunity. 
  • Pray that the governments of the nations will establish comprehensive and effective legal system. Pray that they can protect the citizens from sexual violence and make the perpetrators prosecuted.

Laos Farmers Struggle with Erratic Weather

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for Laos farmers]

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Hit hard by hot and dry weather, farmers near Laos’s capital are looking for new ways to adapt to climate change and protect their cash crops as the temperature in recent months rose above 40 degrees Celsius. Weather experts say that irregular weather patterns since 2007 have caused the monsoon season in Laos, typically first seen in mid-May, to come as early as March or as late as June. A recent study on climate change in the lower Mekong Basin (including parts of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) identified climate change ‘hotspots’ where conditions will become unsuitable for crops currently grown there. The study projected higher-than-global average temperature increases in the basin (a 4-6 Celsius degree jump versus the global estimate of a two degree increase), which will mean dramatic changes in the comfort zone of crops. It could have serious negative consequences for the livelihoods, health and food security of the local communities in these areas.

Pray for Laos farmers:

  • Pray that the community can explore and adapt new planting methods, which can combat the negative effects of climate change. 
  • Laos government is encouraging farmers to abandon pesticides and chemical fertilizer, and adopt organic farming. Pray that more farmers will support the government’s call and love the land resource. May God give them a secured livelihood.

Malnutrition is the Biggest Underlying Cause of Child’s Death

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[ePrayer – Pray for the world’s malnourished children]

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The numbers of humans living on less than $1.25 a day is expected to be halved by 2015, a success for a Millennium Development Goal target set in 2000, however, economic growth does not necessarily reduce hunger especially among the world’s poorest. Under-nutrition is the biggest underlying cause of death in children under five in the world, responsible for 8,000 child deaths each day. In India, child malnutrition has increased in the past decade, despite its economic boom. A report in 2013 estimated that stunting, a form of malnutrition which causes a child to be too small for his or her age, affected at least 165 million children worldwide in 2011, with Africa and Asia showing the highest prevalence. It is said that countries will not be able to break out of poverty or sustain economic advances when so much of their population is unable to achieve the nutritional security that is needed for a healthy and productive life. [Guardian, BBC]

Pray for the world’s malnourished children :

  • Pray that all nations will be committed to supporting reduction in malnutrition to help achieve poverty eradication ;
  • Pray also that child’s nutrition will be improved in order to ensure their lives, health and development.

Disaster Risk Reduction Central to Post-2015 Development Process

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[ePrayer – Pray for the poor and marginalised people]

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A UN report outlining a new framework to build on the anti-poverty targets known as the MDGs was written to drive five major transformational shifts, including a transition from ‘reducing’ to ‘ending’ extreme poverty, leaving no one behind; putting sustainable development at the core of the development agenda; and forging a new global partnership based on cooperation, equity and human rights. The new framework focuses on assisting the poorest and most marginalised, a disproportionate number of whom are women, and puts reducing disaster risk centre stage in the Post-2015 Development Agenda debate. The report said no one is more vulnerable than people in poverty to face challenges by desertification, deforestation and overfishing and these are less able to cope with floods, storms, and droughts. Natural disasters can pull them into a cycle of debt and illness, to further degradation of the land, and a fall deeper into poverty. [UN News]

Pray for the poor and marginalised people :

  • Pray for global partnership for achieving anti-poverty targets after 2015;
  • Pray that people in poverty can be empowered to adapt and cope with natural disasters.