Kuala Lumpur, religious leaders unite to combat violence against women and children

A 16-day campaign of activism launched. President of the Inter-religious Advisory Council: "Overcoming indifference and ignorance, to safeguard respect for human life". The Sisters of the Good Shepherd for awareness, reflection and action. Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur: "In order to fulfill its prophetic role, the Church needs to rise up in unity to comfort the afflicted".


Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews / HeraldMalaysia) - Leaders of Malaysia's major interreligious groups are calling upon all citizens, regardless of race or creed, to work forcefully against trafficking in human beings and violence against women and children. "“We must overcome our indifference and ignorance to safeguard the respect for human life. We must engage in dialogue with one another to raise awareness and play a bigger role in eradicating this widespread abuse of human rights,” said Datuk RS Mohan Shan, President of Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).


The MCCBCHST in collaboration with Good Shepherd Services (GSS) officially launched a 16 Days of Activism campaign: Orange the World Say No to Violence Against Women and Children on November 25, with a booklet entitled ’16 Days of Reflection for the Nation’. Designed by the GSS, the booklet is a resource for awareness, reflection and action during the period of 16 days starting November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (International Day of human rights).

The groups of members of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, namely the Malaysian Episcopal Conference, the Council of Churches and the National Evangelical Christian Association have collaborated with GSS on another booklet entitled "16 days of prayer for the nation" and distributed in the respective churches . In his preface, Msgr. Julian Leow Beng Kim, archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and vice president of Mccbchst, declares that as a community called to free all those who are oppressed, the imperative of the Church is to be involved in the liberation of these victims from a culture of violence and exploitation to the fullness of life and communion. "To fulfill its prophetic role, the Church needs to rise up in unity to comfort the afflicted," says the archbishop, urging the faithful to pray, reflect and act to end violence against women and children in all forms.