El 12 de junio es el «Día contra el Trabajo Infantil». Así lo ha delimitado la Organización de las Naciones Unidas que, a través de sus diversas instituciones, se considera punta de lanza en la lucha contra este flagelo que hiere a la humanidad en su esencia.

Las estadísticas incluidas en el sitio web de las Naciones Unidas que tratan este tema consideran que durante el año 2020, el diez por ciento de los niños de 5 años o más participaron en el trabajo infantil en todo el mundo, es decir, un total de 160 millones de niños, de los cuales el sesenta por ciento eran varones.

Este fenómeno no es nuevo y no debería sorprender al lector.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches you can find the message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which was entitled this week “Child Labor and Afflicted Humanity”, coinciding with the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12.

The issue also presents an interview with the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs on MTV Lebanon, during which he was accompanied by the Director of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department Mrs. Huguette Salameh, to shed light on the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly. This is in addition to another interview with Dr. Abs on Radio Liban Libre, about the General Assembly and the Christian presence in the region.

The twelfth of June is the Day against Child Labor. This is how it was delimited by the United Nations, which, through its various institutions, is considered as a spearhead in the fight against this scourge that wounds humanity to its core.

The statistics included on the United Nations website dealing with this topic consider that during the year 2020, ten percent of children 5 years and above participated in child labor worldwide, or a total of 160 million children, sixty percent of whom were boys.

This phenomenon is not new and should not surprise the reader.

Entitled by Pope Francis “Listening with the Ear of the Heart”

The world is celebrating the International Day of Social Media in its 56th edition this year, which is scheduled on June 30 of each year, aiming at enhancing awareness and spreading knowledge about the social media platforms to be used in a better way, especially in spreading and consolidating human values ​​based on peace, love and brotherhood, avoiding hate speech and conflicts.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of “Azamat Wa Kadaya” program (which means “Crises and Issues”) on Radio Liban Libre with Houda Eid, on Saturday, June 4, 2022. During the interview, Dr. Abs pointed out the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly and its objectives, as well as, the Christian presence in the region and the importance of the Christians’ role, especially in overcoming all their challenges.

On his first tour in the Middle East following the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, the Executive Director of the international organizations, Global Ministries of the Christian Church and the United Church of Christ, in the Middle East and Europe, Dr. Peter Makari visited the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Monday, June 6, 2022, with a delegation that included the Associate General Minister and Co-Executive of Global Ministries Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, and the President of the Division of Overseas and Co-Executive of Global Ministries Rev. Marco Cable. MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs welcomed them alongside with the General Secretariat's team.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of MTV Lebanon, on Sunday, June 5, 2022, in "With Jesus" segment during the morning show “Alive” with Elie Ahwash, in order to shed light on the MECC 12th General Assembly event and the post General Assembly activities. Dr. Abs tackled the importance of the General Assembly, its objectives and the framework of its convening, highlighting its theme "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27), agenda and activities, especially the visit of the Heads of the Eastern Churches to the President of the Arabic Republic of Egypt Mr. Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

In the context of strengthening communication and building bridges between the ecumenical and humanitarian organizations in the world and the East, the Middle East Council of Churches participated in the periodic meeting of the Governing Board of ACT Alliance organization, held between May 30 and June 2, 2022 in Geneva.

On behalf of the Middle East, Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah, from the Evangelical Church in Beirut, represented the Middle East Council of Churches, and Ms. Sally Azar from Jerusalem, represented the youth in the region, alongside with representatives of the concerned ecumenical and humanitarian organizations.