Dangerous Decline
By a conservative estimate, female foeticide
accounts for at least half a million missing female births in India every year,
according to research findings published in British Medical journal Lancet. The
Lancet Report 2011 estimates that more than 12 million female foetuses may have
been aborted in India in the last three decades.
India was recently ranked as the fourth
worst country in the world for the safety and wellbeing of women, citing the
high rates of child marriage, trafficking, slavery, female feticide, and female
infanticide as contributing factors. Even when a female child manages to
survive past the first year of her life, she often suffers “systematic neglect,
inferior medical care, poor nutrition, and substandard education” compared to
her male counterparts. Girl babies are “breast-fed less frequently” and for a “shorter
duration” than baby boys, and receive little to no medical care. 71 percent of
young females experience severe malnutrition, as opposed to 28 percent of males
in the same age group. Nearly 30 percent of Indian women report facing
“dowry-related beatings” by their groom and/or his family. Approximately 17
women are killed everyday due to dowry related violence. The crime statistics
released by the Delhi police revealed that a woman is raped in Delhi every 18
hours and cases of molestation against women take place every 14 hours.
At the
foundation of these patterns are mindsets which view girls as burdens and
liabilities- mindsets which pose threat to the life of the unborn girls and
stem from the lie that women are inferior to men.
Can we
reclaim the value and dignity of each human life? Can our combined and singular
voices together reinstate the equal and inherent value of an unborn girl child?
Can we
engage on this issue of justice to ensure freedom, equality and dignity to our
women? Can we mobilize minds, hearts and hands, and join in the movement to
cause a change in mindsets by choosing life over death.
- You can be the catalyst in changing the mindset which causes and
perpetuates the practice of female foeticide by championing the value and
precious worth of our girl children.
- You can pray regularly to seek
forgiveness for this evil practice of our time and for the healing of our
land and for the building of a society where there is no discrimination
against the girl children.
- Pray for the
girls -victims of abuse and discrimination
- Pray for our
nation – for a change in the mindset of our people so that we will not
kill, abuse or discriminate against girls.
- Confess our
sins of indifference.
- Commit to
stand against the abuse, violence and discrimination against girls-because
boys and girls, men and women are created in the image of God.
International Day of The Girl Child
11th October 2012
“Let the little children
come to me, and do not hinder them …” (Mark 10:14)
Nearly 7000 girls are
killed in India every day. Prejudice against girl child among Indians is a
worldwide phenomenon. This, in a sense, is genocide. Millions of Indian girls
are missing. They are victims of foeticide, infanticide, malnutrition,
illiteracy, abuse, violence, trafficking and forced labour.
Jesus Christ, the
Incarnate, demonstrated how much he loves children. Though all children are at
risk, girl child is particularly vulnerable. The Church must show love and
practical care, thereby demonstrating the love and concern of the Creator God.
INTERCESSION
Leader: Gracious
Lord, we thank you for creating us, both male and female, in your image, out of
your love, and in your divine plan and purpose. We are grateful that Christ
died on the cross to redeem all humankind. Yet, we confess that we have not
always seen ourselves and each other as created in your image. We have treated
one another as less than what you have created us to be. Transform us with the
power and hope of your resurrection.
Lord, in your mercy
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader:
Lord
Jesus, during your ministry on earth, you showed how precious little children
are to you. We have failed to show the same love to them, particularly towards
the girl child. We have discriminated against the girl child from the womb till
the tomb. We have destroyed life, often even before she could come into this
world. Forgive us.
Lord, in your mercy
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader:
Lord
Jesus, we learn from the Gospels that you loved, healed and restored women in a
society where she was discriminated against both in social and religious life.
Yet, even today, we face the same challenge of exclusion of women, and
discrimination and violence against the girl child at all stages of her life.
We confess our guilt.
Lord, in your mercy
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader:
Instead
of rejoicing at the birth of every girl child who adds beauty and meaning to
our world, we plot ways to get rid of her. We blame and threaten the mother
when we receive the news of the birth of the girl child. We force the mother to
kill or abandon the girl child whom she lovingly and patiently bore for nine
long months. We are sorry.
Lord, in your mercy
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray
for the Church that she would bring the message of love and hope to every girl
child who feels unloved, unwanted and rejected. May we be facilitators in
helping her to grow to her God-given potentials in her service to humanity.
Lord, in your mercy
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader:
We
confess that we have not acknowledged the gifts and abilities of the girl child
and women, and have not provided them opportunities to exercise those gifts for
the good of the Church. Help us to nurture the girl child and equip her to
contribute through any role in the Church that the Spirit might call her to,
including that of leadership.
Lord, in your mercy
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader:
We
bring before you every daughter, sister, wife and mother that you may shower
your blessings upon them and on all that they do in different roles. Help them
and us to uphold the dignity that you have given them.
Lord, in your mercy.
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader:
We
pray for all those who oppress and exploit the girl child or woman that they
would realize the harm that is caused to another person created in the image of
God. Help them to see that what they do to the girl child is an offence against
you. Change their hearts and minds by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, in your mercy.
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader:
We
pray for all victims of gender discrimination and violence. We know that you
are moved by their silent tears and sighs. Comfort them with your love and
stretch forth your hand to heal them.
Lord, in your mercy.
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader:
We
pray for all those in authority – in organisations, Church and society – that
they would be sensitive to the issues affecting the girl child and women, and
would take measures to protect and to provide equal opportunities for their
growth and development.
Lord, in your mercy.
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader: God of love
and life, fill us with your love and compassion. Help us to see every person as
you would see her. Teach us to see you in every girl child. Let every girl
child know that she is precious, loved and wanted.
Lord, in your mercy.
All:
Hear our prayer.
Leader: We offer
these prayers in the name of Christ who is the hope and authority of the
future. Amen.
(Prepared
by: Rev. Thomas Jacob, Presbyter-in-charge, Wesley Church CNI, Colaba, Mumbai)
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