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Dr.
John Graz and Dr. Rafik Aliyev |
Azerbaijani Religious Affairs Chief Defends State Policy on Religion
"The state of Azerbaijan feels the religious situation could turn into conflict, particularly between Moslem and Christian associations," said Dr. Rafik Aliyev, chairman of the country's state committee for religious affairs. "That's why the state committee was founded, because the government felt it had to do something."
In an interview at the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on May 31, Aliyev said that it was understood that religion was a special and sensitive issue, and that misunderstandings over the need for government control and registration could arise.
"The constitution provides for religious freedom and freedom of choice in matters of belief," he continued. "But the population has reacted inadequately to other religions. We have a great task of explanation to the religious majority that transition from one religion to another is healthy and normal."
The government requires all religious groups to re-register, and some have complained of delays and refusals in the process. Some media reports also allege problems of non-cooperation at the local level, and police intimidation.
Aliyev rejected such reports, saying they were not factual. "The state committee has not used the police, nor has any group been refused registration. We continue the process." He also commented on local press reporting that had targeted Christian groups saying that this was another reason for the state committee to work, to help combat such intolerance. Admitting that there were still problems in achieving full religious freedom, Aliyev said that the state committee was there to help and not to hinder religious worship and practice.
Responding, Dr. John Graz of the Adventist Church's public affairs and religious liberty department said the meeting was helpful in developing understanding. "We believe that as we work together and encourage mutual respect, religious freedom will grow and the fundamental right to believe according to the dictates of conscience will be respected." [Jonathan Gallagher]
UN Special Session on Children Concludes Successfully
New York, NY... [PARL] The United Nations concluded its Special Session on Children late on May 10 with a unanimous agreement (from 180 nations) on a new agenda for the world's children, which included 21 specific goals and targets for child health, education and protection over the next decade. More than 3,000 delegates, 60 world leaders, 2,000 non-governmental representatives (NGOs), and 250 children attended the UN Special Session on Children, May 8-10. Other leading figures included Microsoft's Bill Gate, East Timorese Nobel laureate Bishop Carlos X Belo, and actors Harry Belafonte and Roger Moore.
Also in attendance were Matthew Mills and Samantha Burchard, UN liaison officers for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. "Adventists have long recognized the need to provide children with quality living conditions, health services and education. We hope that our presence sent a clear message of how much Adventists care for the children of the world," Mills said.
Commenting on the 1990 World Summit for Children, Carol Bellamy, executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that, "We have fallen short of meeting the goals set for children a decade ago, and we were reminded during the pre-session meetings that children should not be seen as an expense, but an investment."
After a week of negotiations and panel discussions Bellamy praised governments in their commitment to do all they can for children. "When it comes to children's health and welfare, there is really very little difference among nations," she said.
Adventists to Attend UN Special Session on Children
Silver Spring, MD... Representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Matt Mills and Samantha Burchard, will participate in the UN General Assembly on children in New York, May 8-10. Organized by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 60 heads of State or governments are expected to attend. The session will focus on how investment in children's education, health and protection contributes to global stability and peace.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan noted that the UN has fallen short of its World Summit for Children's goals largely because of insufficient investment. In a progress report written last June, Annan outlined that out of every 100 children born today, the births of 40 will not be registered at all; 26 will not be immunized against any disease and 19 will have no access to clean drinking water. One in three will suffer from malnutrition in the first five years of life; 17 will never go to school - of these, 9 will be girls - and of every 100 who begin 1st grade, only 25 will reach the 5th grade.
"Our aim is to convince world leaders that investing in children is their number one responsibility and that investing in children is the only lasting strategy for reducing poverty, stopping AIDS, and avoiding conflict," commented Carol Bellamy, director for UNICEF.
Echoing this same theme, Dr. Virginia Smith, director for the Department of Children's Ministries for the Adventist World Church, emphasized the importance of educating and allocating resources for children's programs. "Often the weakest and the 'voiceless' lose out on resources," Smith says. "We have inherited a perception that children are not important enough to spend resources on. And yet when we have an audience that will listen to a talk on the importance of investing in children and the reasons why it's important, they become very enthusiastic. I find it quite easy to convert them to that way of thinking. But we need more voices out there to advocate for children and talking about the reasons why we should do more for the children."
According to Smith, in the past many of the training programs organized by the Department of Children's Ministries have reached only the Adventist communities in the local churches. However, according to Smith, there's been a paradigm shift in recent years. Outreach programs have benefited children from outside the Adventist community. "When the children take home information about what they're learning or when they perform, such as in a children's choir, the likelihood of their parents attending our programs is higher. As a result whole families have been reached," Smith concludes.
While Smith believes that the Adventist Church needs to do more for children globally, she comments that more local churches are developing programs for children, realizing that what they do for the children will determine what the children will be like socially, mentally and spiritually when they become teenagers.