In the wake of the 31st anniversary of China’s One-Child Policy, an organization is rallying churches to pray for the millions of female lives that have been lost in the name of population control.
The One-Child Policy, which limits Chinese families to having just one child, was established in 1980 as a response to an exploding Chinese population.
Due to the Chinese preference for male children, sex-selective abortions, female infanticide and the abandonment of female children has become an integral part of Chinese culture over the last 30 years.
The One-Child Policy was scheduled to expire in September 2010, but as of late remains in effect.
Advocacy group All Girls Allowed has been urging churches, schools and organizations to honor the lives of the 37 million girls whose lives have been prevented or affected by the One-Child Policy.
From Sept. 23 to 25, the organization is hosting a 37-second moment of silence to acknowledge the lives lost.
"Every second that we spend remembering these girls, hundreds more are killed in favor of boys," All Girls Allowed founder Chai Ling said in a statement.
Ling added, "It is this generation's responsibility to speak up about it, and students are beginning to see that. The good news is, with this kind of momentum, we believe that we can end 'gendercide' in our lifetime."
A number of churches, grade schools and universities have all organized to hold a moment of silence, including Tufts University, Northeastern University and Notre Dame University as well as Living Faith Community Church in Philomath, Ore., Church of the Cross in Brookline, Mass. and Peace Church in Middleville, Mich.
In addition to registration, which can be found at the All Girls Allowed website (http://www.allgirlsallowed.org/37seconds), the organization has released an informational video detailing its purpose and the importance of "gendercide" advocacy as well as organization and promotional guides for the moment of silence.
"The response we've seen from churches all throughout America shows that believers are becoming increasingly concerned for their oppressed brothers and sisters worldwide," Ling told Charisma magazine.
All Girls Allowed aims to end gender discrimination in China through eradicating "gendercide" and assisting families who have baby girls, providing education and scholarships to abandoned girls, rescuing children from human trafficking and providing legal advocacy to mothers who have been victims of forced abortions or sterilization.
