Inauguration of the World's First Safeguarding Licentiate
Rome, 5th-6th Oct 2018
Exactly one year after the World Congress “Child Dignity in the Digital World,” which closed on 6 October 2017 with the presentation of the Declaration on Child Dignity in the Digital World at a papal audience, the Centre for Child Protection (CCP) of the Pontifical Gregorian University launches its Licentiate in Safeguarding, a two-year master’s degree program in safeguarding.
To launch the Licentiate in Safeguarding, on Friday 5th October morning, Reinhard Cardinal Marx, Archbishop of Munich, will celebrate Mass at the Pontifical Gregorian University. The liturgical celebration will be followed by three conference talks, given by Cardinal Marx; Prof. Elizabeth J.
Letourneau, Director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA); and Major Dana Humaid, Director of the Project Management and Shared Services Office, Acting Director of the Child Protection Centre (General Secretariat of the Ministry of Interior, UAE). Afterwards, a reception will be offered for the attendees, who hail from various countries.
After the reception, a press conference will take place, with the participation of Cardinal Marx, Prof. Elizabeth J. Letourneau, Major Dana Humaid, and Fr. Hans Zollner SJ (the Gregorian’s Academic Vice Rector and CCP President), in order to present the core vision and aims of the Licentiate in Safeguarding.
The following day, Saturday 6th October evening, in the Church of St. Ignatius, the artistic première of “Transformation – a musical performance dedicated to the victims of abuse,” composed by Konstantia Gourzi and produced by the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, will feature the children’s choir of the Bavarian State Opera, the musicians of the Bavarian State Orchestra, and dancers.
When and Where:
5 October 2018, Pontifical Gregorian University
9.30 Mass (Cappella della Comunità, II Floor)
10.30 Conference talks (Aula Magna)
12.00 Followed by a reception (Atrium) and press conference (Aula Magna)
6 October 2018, Church of St. Ignatius, Via del Caravita
20.00 Artistic première of “Transformation – a musical performance dedicated to the victims of abuse”
Interfaith Alliance for Safe Communities: Child Dignity Online
Abu Dhabi, 19th-20th Nov 2018
The Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities seeks to unite religious leaders from around the world, through a series of bi-annual forums and global workshops, in order to foster dialogue and take action to address important social challenges. The first, invitation-only forum will be held in Abu Dhabi on November 19 and 20, 2018. Entitled “The Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities: Child Dignity Online,” the forum will bring together the world’s religious leaders to address the issue of online child abuse, a global epidemic which requires urgent attention.
Brigadier General Mohammed Humaid bin Dalmuj Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of
the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior noted the importance of the role of unity and commitment in tackling modern social issues. “The Interfaith Alliance is a way to reach, inform and involve people of all faiths to accelerate action both globally and at grassroots levels. The event will give faith leaders the knowledge, understanding and tools they require to provide the advice, comfort and support that children and families need."
The forum has three key goals:
1. To reach, inform and involve people of faith around the world
2. To create dialogue on these challenges in every place of worship
3. To mobilise global action by people of every faith.
Approximately 400 of the world’s religious leaders will be in attendance at the forum, including a number of senior faith leaders. Those presently confirmed as attending include:
● Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church
● Dr. Imam Ahmad Al-Tayib, Al Azhar Mosque and University, Cairo
● Ani Choying Drolma, the Buddhist Singing Nun, Nepal
● Dr. Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam, All-India Imam Organization
● Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Sikh Leader
● Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, the Patriarch of the See of St. Mark and leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church
This year’s forum is organised by the Government of the United Arab Emirates and supported by the Child Dignity Alliance, Arigatou International, Religions for Peace, the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, the Global Network of Religions for Children and WePROTECT.