New Report Finds Christian Girls are More Vulnerable to Persecution
While situations and circumstances vary per country, “religious persecution and discrimination target children and youth by manipulating their short- and long-term options through taking control of the gateways and pathways to their adult identities and situations,” says the 2021 Children and Youth Specific Religious Persecution report.
Researchers looked at religious freedom of children and youth (under 18) in the 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian as ranked by the Open Doors World Watch List. The results show that no matter how young, boys and girls already start to face different ‘pressure points’, of which more are reported for girls.
While the main threat for boys is recruitment into militias, Christian girls in the top-50 countries are particularly at risk of forced marriage (in 66% of the countries) as well as sexual violence (58%)
“Affiliated Pressure Points such as Abduction, Trafficking, and Targeted seduction also contribute to a pattern of targeting girls for their sexual purity and marriageability,” the researchers said.
In conflict zones, the risks are even greater… [Read Full Article Here]
17 Missionaries Kidnapped in Haiti
A group of 17 Christian missionaries from the U.S. and Canada are still being held outside a suburb in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince after a notorious and powerful gang, the “400 Mawazo”, kidnapped them following a visit to the Maison La Providence de Dieu orphanage over the weekend.
According to what Haitian Justice Minister Liszt Quitel first told The Wall Street Journal, the gang is asking for a ransom of US$17 million – 1 million for each person held – for the group’s release. The Minister also confirmed to CNN that the missionaries were at an unknown location outside the suburb of Croix-des-Bouquets, north of the city.
The Minister explained that the kidnappers first called Christian Aid Ministries, the organization the abducted missionaries belong to, last Saturday to ask for the staggering ransom. He added that since then there had been several calls between the kidnappers and the missionary organization based in Ohio… [Read Full Article Here]
About Open Doors Canada
Open Doors Canada is affiliated with Open Doors International, a global ministry that has supported and strengthened persecuted Christians in over 60 countries for over 60 years. ODI raised approximately US $70 million last year to provide practical support to persecuted Christians such as food, medicines, trauma care, legal assistance, safe houses, and schools, as well as spiritual support through Christian literature, training, and resources. For more information visit opendoorscanada.org