Pastor Mark Burns on Protecting Children’s Rights

In June 2025, independent journalists Markéta Vacková and David Bail uncovered testimonies from underage children in a rural Tanzanian community, all connected to a so-called “humanitarian mission” carried out over three years by Czech activist Jakub Jahl.

Their documentary brought these voices into the public eye and prompted the first concrete legal steps to protect one of the victims: a young girl named Violet. The full account of her case and its developments became the subject of their second investigative documentary film Justice for African Children, which documents the legal effort to secure her safety and rights.

Around this time, the journalists Markéta Vacková and David Bail met Pastor Mark Burns in Rome, a high-profile American faith leader and longtime spiritual advisor to President Donald J. Trump, internationally recognized for his powerful advocacy on human rights, religious freedom, and protection of vulnerable communities.

In this exclusive conversation, Pastor Burns speaks openly about the children’s testimonies uncovered in Tanzania and the broader case surrounding Jakub Jahl.

Pastor Burns also reflects on the moral and spiritual responsibilities of leaders and societies, emphasizing that the value of a child’s life can never depend on geography, race, or social status.
He notes that around the world, attention and protection are too often uneven, and calls for a more principled, consistent, and courageous global response.

“We should see them as just kids, not black kids, not African kids — just kids.”
Pastor Burns strongly advocates for decisive action, accountability, and international cooperation to ensure that those who harm children cannot evade justice. At the same time, he stresses the importance of hope, dignity, and the unwavering support available to survivors:
“The best is yet to come. We won’t stop until they are free!”

His message is both a warning and an encouragement: a call to protect the most vulnerable, and a reminder that true justice begins with those who refuse to stay silent.