2002

21st October 2002
Wear a Yellow Armband on October 23 to 'Remember the Children'
Catholic Mission calls on the Australian public to support their 'Remember the Children' Campaign by wearing a yellow armband this Wednesday October 23, and signing a petition to urge the government to do more for children.

"Every minute of every day 30 children die because of malnutrition, poverty and inadequate medical treatment," says Diocesan Director of Catholic Mission, Mr Barry Urwin.

"Many more are at risk because of child labour, slavery, prostitution, lack of education and abandonment." (Source: State of the World's Children 2002. UN Population Division).

"The stories and the statistics are frightening but we believe that one child suffering, is one child too many," says Mr Urwin, "so we are calling on all Australians to 'Remember the Children' during World Mission Week (October 20 - 26, 2002) and support specific initiatives to raise awareness of the plight of children around the world and encourage our government to meet its obligations as signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Seven Major Goals for Survival, Development and Protection (1990)."

THE CAMPAIGN
Sign the 'Remember the Children' Petition on World Mission Day (Sunday October 20) to call on the Australian community and the government to work harder for the welfare of children by increasing Australia's overseas aid funding from 0.25% of our Gross National Product (GNP) to 0.7% of GNP as per the UN target. Australia's contribution has decreased from 0.47% in 1983/1984 to 0.2% budgeted for 2002-2003.

Wear a Yellow Armband on 'Remember the Children' Armband Day (Wednesday October 23) which says 'Remember the Children' in order to raise public awareness of the plight of children.

Sign the Yellow Armband on Thursday October 24 and mail it to Catholic Mission, Locked Bag 8760, Canberra ACT 2601. Signed armbands and petitions will be presented to the Australian government by Catholic Mission.

As well as the general public campaign, armbands and petitions will be made available to 1700 Catholic Schools and 1400 Catholic Parishes around Australia and school children will also be encouraged to write letters of concern to the government as part of the Schools educational resource for World Mission Week.

Sunday October 20, 2002 marks the international celebration of the 76th Annual World Mission Day, which highlights the Church's work in supporting communities in 160 developing countries and this year focuses attention on the plight of children in these communities.

Catholic Mission is the official mission aid agency of the Catholic Church in Australia providing practical, spiritual and emotional support to communities through: health, hygiene and nutrition programs; education, literacy and self-development programs for adults and children; providing agricultural resources and equipment; building schools, orphanages, health clinics, churches, presbyteries, convents and accommodation for lay leaders; education and training of priests, religious men and women, and lay catechists; supporting local Church communities in remote areas of Australia and their work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; educating Australians about mission and justice.

Last year Australians contributed over $A6.5 million to the work of Catholic Mission.

Photo opportunity: group shot of students from Hunter Catholic schools wearing their armbands

Back to Media Releases