Last night the New Zealand Parliament passed the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, giving same sex couples the right to marry. It is an issue that has divided the Christian community and taken much of its attention and resources. I want to make a call, let’s move on and refocus. There is a world that desperately needs us to not dwell in those things which divide us.
Today Reuters released an article highlighting an issue that the U.N envoy on sexual violence in conflict (war) is addressing – the raping of children as a tactic of war. There is no way to sugar-coat this issue.
The article focuses on Syria, Mali, Congo, Ivory Coast and CAR as places where various groups have raped children as young as 6 to 12 months. I’m the father of a young girl. I feel it deep in my soul. It makes my skin crawl, my stomach turn and my heart bleed. It should do the same to you – it should make us feel physically sick.
The reason is clear, there is no more effective way to break a group than to destroy its children. It’s not just children though, women are also systematically raped in conflicts taking place as I type this.
These are crimes of the worst kind. They destroy people and communities.
Focus needs to be given to prevention and rehabilitation – this takes funding and human capital. Acquiring both of those things will take people raising their voices in support of the victims.
Make no mistake, no group fighting in a conflict does so as an isolated entity. Warfare is expensive – every group gets their funding and resourcing from somewhere and every part of the chain of war needs to be held accountable.
The global Christian voice is a big one comprising of large entities, some with large sums of money and the ability to protest and lobby with passion. On these issues and more we need to make ourselves heard but in order to do so we need to be united and willing to direct our attention and resources to the brutal injustices that scream at us from the silent cries of the victims.
Where is your attention and voice directed?
See this post as that caring slap across the face that says “snap out of it!” The world needs you.