Myanmar religious leaders unite for child rights

Leaders of four major religions have come together in support of child rights in Myanmar.

Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim religious leaders stressed that every child is entitled to a safe, protected childhood in which the child can grow and develop to her or his optimal potential, a Unicef press release issued Friday said.

The religious leaders were attending the two-day National Conference on Faith for Children 2014 organised by Unicef here, which ended Thursday.

"We commit ourselves to a national and sustainable contribution to the effort to prevent diseases, deaths and sufferings of our children and families from preventable causes," a joint statement by the religious leaders said.

"We commit to protecting children from all forms of neglect, exploitation, abuse and violence in the family, communities and in conflict," the statement added.

The statement also said that the family is the best place for a child to grow in and that families should be supported to be able to raise their children in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.

This was the first time in Myanmar's history that leaders from different faiths have come together to maximise the use of the spiritual, moral and social assets of religious communities in support of child protection, survival and education.

Unicef has been working with the government and the people of Myanmar since 1950. In partnership with the government and the civil society, Unicef aims to reduce child mortality, improve access to and quality of education and protect children from violence, abuse and exploitation, it added.