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For the second time, the Pastoral da Criança (Pastoral of the Child) is the Brazilian official candidate to the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee, in Oslo, received the document with informations on Pastoral da Criança on January, through the Brazilian Ambassador in Norway, Mr. Luiz Antônio Jardim Gagliardi.
The Pastoral da Criança is an organ for social action of CNBB (National Conference of Bishops of Brazil), that assists, every month, more than 76 thousand pregnant women and 1,6 million poor children under 6 years of age.
Thanks to the efforts of more than 155 thousand volunteers, the infant mortality rate was reduced to less than one half of the national average in the 32,743 communities assisted. In 2001, the infant mortality rate, among the children assisted by Pastoral da Criança was less than 13 deaths per thousand born alive.
To Dr. Zilda Arns Neumann, the national coordinator of Pastoral da Criança, this is a great recognition to the work done by these thousands volunteers. “The nomination helps to show to the world that organizing networks of human solidarity is the best way to solve problems and build the peace”, says the pediatrician.
As in 2001, the nomination was presented by the Brazilian Government. To the President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, “it is more than time to acknowledge all over the world the merits of this initiative by such a relevant award as the Nobel Peace Prize. An initiative that gathers the efforts of the society to accomplish the most wanted goal by all peoples: the peace”.
The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2002 will be announced in October.
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