Children playing in a destroyed Chinese school in a small town about 200km east of Dili, East Timor.

We, the representatives of various churches, ecumenical organizations in Asia that are concerned on issues related to the rights and dignity of children met in Bangkok, Thailand from 9 - 15 November 2001, heard the cry of millions of children who are being dehumanized in several ways in Asia. As the children of Asia continue to be victimized, we call upon the governments, people and churches in Asia, to work towards the goal of promoting the dignity of children and affirming their fullness of life. The Consultation on "Affirming Fullness of Life and Dignity of Children" organized by the World Council of Churches and the Christian Conference of Asia was held amidst a global crisis around the world which is bringing more uncertainties and anxieties that ultimately affects millions of children, the Salinlahi (future generation). The participants shared and analyzed the situation of children in different Asian countries, especially children who are living in difficult situations. We have shared the sentiments of millions of Asian children who are forced to live in vulnerable situation and thereby loosing their dignity and identity. The abject poverty and malnutrition, negative impact of globalization, sexual abuse, child labor, trafficking of children, drugs and substance abuse, armed conflicts, violence against children, children affected with HIV-AIDS, lack of legal protection mechanisms, etc., confront Asia's children today.

The negative impact of globalization, especially the process of economic globalization, liberalization of market, and the trade and investment policies of different Asian government add to the present miseries of Asian children. The Asian economic crisis that erupted in 1997 still affects children in Asia in many ways. As the Asian countries continue to face economic turmoil and are plunged into increasing foreign debts, the Asian children also continue to suffer more from government policies of withdrawal of food, health and educational subsidies.

Poverty and ignorance are considered the most important factors driving children in Asia like many other regions to be sexually exploited and trafficked. The number of children who are spending their childhood in the streets is increasing in countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Philippines. Sale and trafficking of children for sexual exploitation, pornography, forced labor, have become serious concerns in several Asian countries. We note with a sense of disappointment that Asia has become a safe haven for thousands of pedophiles from the developed countries. Impoverished children who live in vulnerable situation in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia are continue to face this inhuman activities.

Ethnic, religious and communal conflicts and civil wars that have been going on in countries such as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Nepal, India, Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar have affected the future of millions of children. With grave concern, we note that the bombing in Afghanistan continue to kill and maim thousands of innocent children; more than half of the population of children in Sri Lanka have became victims of the on-going civil war. The conflict in Mindanao in the Philippines, and the increasing militarization in Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines, have displaced and traumatized thousands of children; the use of children in war has been increasing in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and in the Philippines.

Although all Asian governments have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, they continued to join the bandwagon of the globalization process, thus depriving the rights of the future generation. Many churches in Asia also have been silent when it comes to a point of addressing the issues of children today and it has maintained only its approach of charity to address the problems of children. Considering these realities, we emphasized the need for churches transforming its traditional charity approach in order to be engaged in a relevant mission to respond the cries of millions of Asian children.

We have heard of all these problems children in Asia are faced with. The day to day life situation of these children destroy their dignity and fullness of life. As we are increasingly aware of these problems of the Salinlahi in Asia, we also commit ourselves to work for the promotion of the dignity of children everywhere.

While we listen to the anxiety and question raised by Isaac, "Where is the lamb for burnt offering ?" (Genesis 22: 7) and also to the voice heard in Rama "mourning and great weeping of Rachel for her children are no more", (Jeremiah 31:15) we are reminded of our responsibilities and commitment to affirm the fullness of life and dignity of children and "hoping for a better future", declares the Lord.

We call on churches and national councils, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) to deepen the concerns on children, so that the Asian churches and ecclesiastical bodies could work together to protect and promote the dignity of children in a more effective way.

We urge the WCC and the CCA to take leadership in forming a network of all concerned Christian organizations and people who are working on issues affecting children and provide a platform to initiate sustained programmes in this region to address the problems of children.