Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Zamboanga City (Fides Service) - A joint effort is needed to fight the scourge of juvenile delinquency, institutions, religious communities, social centers, schools, families must all play a part: this emerged during a forum organised in Zamboanga City, Mindanao (southern Philippines), to discuss the situation and idenitify ways to prevent young people from falling into the trap of crime.
Representatives of the institutions and also Christian and Muslim leaders agreed to promote common initiatives to reach the common goal of preventing youth crime and helping street children start a new life.
The forum also discussed the situation of young people in prison. Many of the inmates in prisons in Zamboanga city and in the region are boys aged 9 to 18 detained for various petty crimes. The participants at the forum proposed various ways in which to re-educate these young offenders involving institutes of education and social works and agreed to pressure public institutions to act in this field.
With regard to attention for youth and formation, at the Muslim/Christian centre Silsilah college and university students of the two religions learn to live together at Harmony Village. The Centre offers annual seminars on dialogue, individual responsiblity for social harmony, relations between believers of different religions and themes such as the fight against fundamentalism and terrorism .
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/7/2005 righe 24 parole 244)
