(ANS – Rome) – Today, 18 November, the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Pascual Chávez, has sent a message in which he invites all Salesian communities in the world  to strengthen their efforts for a positive education.  “Stop violence against children for a positive education without corporal punishment and cruel and degrading treatment” is his appeal.

The Rector Major’s appeal, issued on the occasion of Unversal Childrens’ Day–celebrated next Sunday  20 November – aims at promoting a positive education “in a world appearing twisted into a spiral of violence and oppression of those who are weaker and defenseless”.

The Universal Day and the subject of the appeal obviously have special significance for the Salesian Congregation: “The chosen theme is very close to the heart of the Salesian mission and the Preventive System:  Don Bosco was a tireless pioneer of it, anticipating many of the contents of the General Comment No. 8 on  ‘The right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment’, adopted by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2006” the Rector Major writes.

Fr Chávez also points out how the appeal is in line with the process of preparation for the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, in this first year dedicated to re-discovering his history; and he expresses the hope that  Salesian communities will be in the forefront in promoting a positive and loving education.

The full text is available in the “Service” section of ANS.

Published 18/11/2011