Transformed Faith Communities: Ending Violence Against Children is the theme of the Fifth Forum
The Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) 5th Forum International Organizing Committee (IOC) has announced the dates for the GNRC 5th Forum. The Forum will be held from 9th – 11th May 2017, in Panama City, Panama. The committee agreed on these dates during its 2nd Meeting held in Panama City on 19th and 20th May 2016. The theme of the 5th Forum agreed upon by the committee is Ending Violence Against Children: Faith Communities in Action. The sub-themes that will be addressed are: Protecting Children from Violent Extremism, Gang Violence and Organized Crime; Nurturing Spirituality and Ending Violence in Child Upbringing and Ending Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children.
A total of 19 participants took part in the 2nd committee meeting to plan for the GNRC 5th Forum. In the discussions, the organizing committee members focused on the current challenges that are affecting children. President of Arigatou International and Convenor for the GNRC, Rev. Keishi Miyamoto in his message to the Organizing Committee asked the committee to focus on the challenges especially on violence that children face every day. Rev. Miyamoto asked the committee members to reach out to their networks in order to make the GNRC 5th Forum a success.
A section of IOC members during the meeting
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee Mons. Sidney Fones asked the committee members to relate everything they do with the sacredness of the child, which should be at the centre of the Forum’s deliberations. In his presentation, the GNRC Secretary General Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali, pointed out that the GNRC Secretariat had already started implementing the decisions of the Forum’s Organizing Committee, and had completed plans to establish the Forum Secretariat in Panama City, with the selection of Ms. Lizia Lu as the GNRC 5th Forum Coordinator. The Chairman of the GNRC Hosting Committee Bishop Julio E. Murray welcomed the discussions and, assured the committee that they will work tirelessly to ensure the Forum was a success.
The GNRC 5th Forum Organizing Committee will meet again in Panama City on 29th, 30th November and 1st December later this year to review the progress of the GNRC 5th Forum.
