But what of the children?

Table of Contents issue 20/2001 Editorial Building a better world... and not just for children by Razia Ismail War against children, by Graça Machel Christianity, Children & Sex, by Ron O'Grady Children in the Church, by Judith Jarvis Child trafficking in Albania, "Save the Children" report Voices of children & poems Children, alcohol and drugs, by Anders Hagglund Statements by children Two statements made for the 10th anniversary of the UN convention for the rights of the children, by Patricia Cruzado Muñoz & Arnold Engel UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Links to web sites on children A faith-rooted response to terrorism Letter to UN secretary-general, by Konrad Raiser Letter to President Bush from churches in Asia (CCA) Being church today in Africa, by Sam Kobia Behind the news, Visions for peace - voices of faith Sisters, by Betty Ruth Lozano Publications & Announcements justice, peace and creation news ECHOES is an occasional publication of the World Council of Churches' cluster on "Issues and Themes", Justice, Peace & Creation team. Publisher The executive Director of the Cluster on "Issues and Themes", Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia Publication Staff Team: Susie Harrison, Bob Scott, Samuel Kabue, Miriam Reidy-Prost, Thadeo Mutua-Mulonzya Layout and design: Marie Arnaud Snakkers Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Imprimer M. Picarat Articles for future publications are welcome. Articles published in ECHOES are WCC copyright, however permission will be granted to reproduce most material on application. All correspondence and inquiries should be directed to: Justice, Peace & Creation ECHOES World Council of Churches 150 rte de Ferney P.O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel: (41 22) 791 6111 Fax: (41 22) 791 6409 Email: WCC Contact

Echoes from elsewhere: An introduction to Echoes magazine in reactions, facts and issues from all over the world   Religious leaders call for tolerance, peace and a focus on children NEW YORK, 13 September 2001. Leaders representing various faiths led an international gathering of UN staff, diplomats, religious and non-governmental organisation (NGO) representatives and others in a non-denominational service at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City. The Annual Interfaith Service of Commitment to the Work of the United Nations was dedicated to those who had been lost in this week's tragedy in the United States and to their loved ones. The Service was originally intended to honour the UN Special Session on Children, 19-21 September, now postponed. The message from the dozens of religious and spiritual leaders who addressed the gathering was clear: It is essential to give comfort and compassion to those affected by the tragedy; emphasise tolerance and peace going forward; and focus on children as the key to building the future. "We live in a world where insecurity and suffering is spreading at breathtaking speed - quickened by an upsurge in armed conflict that has already left 2 million children dead and 6 million wounded in the last decade alone," said UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. "But in these trying times, let us never forget that in every child who is born, the potentiality of the human race is born again." UN conference ends amid claims that it was overtaken by political deals Durban (ENI). Following frantic through-the-night negotiations, the World Conference Against Racism ended a day later than scheduled, having agreed a form of words on Israel and on slavery, the most contentious issues before the gathering. According to the deal, hammered out in negotiations between the European Union and the Arab-African bloc, slavery and slave trading were declared crimes against humanity while direct criticism of Israel as a racist state was dropped in the final declaration. The EU was not willing to brand racism or past, trans-Atlantic slave trading as crimes against humanity for fear that this would unleash court cases against countries such as Britain and the United States. Child prostitution in Thailand is "racism", pastor tells UN conference Durban (ENI). Children lured into Thailand's sex tourism trade are mostly drawn from the country's indigenous minorities, a pastor has told the United Nations World Conference against racism, taking place in South Africa. A five-minute video of the children, brought to Durban by the Rev. Sirirat Pusurinkham, has shocked hundreds of delegates to the conference, which has otherwise been dominated by high-level political wrangling over Zionism and about reparations for the transatlantic slave trade. Religious and state leaders call for end to anti-Muslim violence New York/London/Amsterdam (ENI). In spite of efforts by church leaders and public officials in many countries to head off potential anti-Muslim sentiment in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States, tension has been on the increase in several places around the world. In the United States, members of the US Muslim community have praised national and city officials for issuing strong words against intolerance aimed at Muslims and Arab Americans, but continue to be worried about new outbreaks of violence. In Britain, incidents of harassment and abuse of Muslims, and damage to mosques, have also been reported, but the country has so far been spared large-scale anti-Muslim protests. Hallman stated that the climate change issue will continue regardless of the recent rejection: "If the US walks away from the Kyoto Protocol, it just means that another treaty with even more ambitious targets will have to be negotiated in the future as evidence of the devastating impacts of climate change mounts. We encourage all other countries to continue working towards the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol regardless of the US action."