Horror of child soldiers highlighted by Archbishop

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has called for urgent and concerted international action to end the abuse of children as military combatants.

Delivering the annual lecture at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, Dr Williams spoke of the estimated 300,000 child soldiers around the world. He set their plight in the context of the recent terrorist atrocities in Russia in which hundreds of children were killed:

"The slaughter and violent abuse of children in local conflicts across the world means that the moral equivalent of Beslan is being enacted repeatedly - that is, the conscious, long term exploitation of children in acts of murderous violence, the calculated use of horrific intimidation towards them, the prolongation of their sufferings and the killing of large numbers without compunction.

"But the use of child soldiers adds a further twist to the picture: the assault is also on their souls, as they are forcibly made partners in acts of terrible violence."

Dr Williams highlighted a range of measures to help end the abuse. These included tougher conditions in trade agreements and curbs on arms sales - especially small arms of the kind borne by children. He also urged the international community to focus more on the ways in which debt and economic failure helped to create conditions for children to be drawn into military conflict, and he called for more resources for protection, reintegration and reconciliation projects involving young combatants.

Dr Williams also drew attention to some wider challenges to the wellbeing of children and childhood:

"Reflecting on the horrors of child soldiering, we may see more clearly the governing features of diverse sorts of abuse - treating children as instruments for adult ends, imprinting guilt and self-hatred through blaming the victim, pushing children into pseudo-adult roles and experiences prematurely," he said.

MU launches new initiative to teach relationship skills

A groundbreaking initiative that will help to fill a growing gap in our culture and equip people with many of the essential skills necessary to establish and sustain close relationships is to be launched nationwide by the Mothers' Union.

Relationships Matter is an eight-stage programme of tools and resources that will address issues such as marriage, community involvement, key communication skills and conflict - all integral parts of forming good relationships.

The material has been created primarily for use within small groups and helps participants value themselves and other people and appreciate their differences. Relationships Matter also recognises the pivotal role that the community can play, as well as the church and other institutional bodies.

The Mothers' Union hopes the materials will be used by diverse groups ranging from parenting groups and churches, to youth groups. The pack has been eagerly awaited and includes interest from a prison chaplain hoping to run the course in a local prison.

The Relationships Matter pack costs £5.50 [plus p&p] direct from the Mothers' Union. More info at www.themothersunion.org

Church Army evangelist to lead National Babyloss awareness week act of remembrance

Nikki Foster-Kruczek (Church Army Evangelist and Mission and Ministry Development Officer for the Walbrook Epiphany Team, Derby) is to lead the annual act of remembrance in London that marks the end of Babyloss Awareness Week (October 9-16).

The week aims to raise awareness of issues around pregnancy, loss, neo-natal death and still-birth and aims to support those families affected. Five charities are involved in the week: The Miscarriage Association, SANDS (Stillbirth and neonatal death society), Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, ARC (antenatal results and choices) and Babyloss.com.

The service was due to be held on Friday 15 October at 6.30pm at the Royal Statistical Society, 12 Errol St, London EC1. The act of remembrance will have a "spiritual" rather than a religious emphasis and will include poetry, music and candle lighting. The aim will be to make it accessible for families of any faith and none.

Nikki Foster-Kruczek has put together the service and will lead it, in her capacity as a bereaved parent who has the necessary skills to be able to help others to remember and cope with this type of loss.

Nikki and her husband Matt Kruczek are both Church Army evangelists who lost three children in early pregnancy. They both work as telephone helpline volunteers for the Miscarriage Association and Nikki is a member of the organisation's board of trustees.

She comments: "I consider it a privilege to have been asked to lead this service and would ask you all to pray that those attending will be strengthened and comforted by their shared experience and that they will know the hope that is ours through Christ."

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