On 30 September 2026, Defence for Children International (DCI) hosted a side event during the 63rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council entitled “Violence Against Children in Palestine.”
The panel was moderated by Layan and Zain, two child representatives from Palestine. It featured four international experts: Ms. Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967; Mr. Benoît Van Keirsbilck, Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC); Mr. Anwar Ghifari, Legal Officer at the Palestinian Center for Children’s Rights; and Dr. Mikiko Otani, President of Child Rights Connect and former chairperson of the UNCRC.
The discussion focused on rights violations against Palestinian children in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). With already significant documentation of violence, human rights abuses, and international law violations, the panellists emphasised the need for further actions towards safety and justice.
Child representative Layan moderated and introduced the discussion by describing human rights violations against Palestinian children and urged the international community to move beyond rhetoric. She stated that “We should not only have rights written in documents, we should be able to live those rights. And until that happens, we must continue to speak, demand accountability, and to remind the world that these violations must never become normal.”
Special Rapporteur Albanese addressed the inclusion of Palestinian children in UN decision-making. While children’s rights should already be guaranteed, Ms. Albanese highlighted the crucial work of Palestinian children in advocating for their rights. She expressed appreciation for the resilience and strength of the Palestinian people, while also emphasising that “the halls of power need to change.”
Palestinian children continue to experience grave human rights violations under Israel’s military occupation and aggression. UN reports describe Israeli forces’ deliberate targeting and killing of children. Additionally, attacks on hospitals and schools destroy the infrastructure that provides for children’s health and wellbeing. The administrative detention of children- in which they are held without charge, denied access to their families and legal counsel, and mistreated- remains ongoing. Mr. Ghifari commented that detained children are then “tried in front of military courts who deal with Palestinian children as if they are a security risk and not as a child who has rights.”
The speakers also discussed the necessity of stronger international action to protect Palestinian children’s rights. Mr. Ghifari noted that children in Palestine “need an international community that is brave and that upholds its responsibility and stops the grave violations that children are facing in Palestine.”
Mr. Van Keirsbilck stated that “The international community has failed… it has not been able to prevent the genocide or to stop it.” As Palestinians and the world grapple with the future, Mr. Van Keirsbilck described true accountability as necessary for peace. He also referenced the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s recent adoption of General Comment No. 27, which provides children with a path to justice and remedies when their rights are violated. Such international frameworks, when effectively implemented, are crucial in providing accountability.
Dr. Otani discussed the role and responsibility of world leaders, commenting that world leaders “have to listen to the children in Palestine, and not just to hear their voices but take their views and recommendations seriously.” World leaders should follow the reports and recommendations of the UN and NGOs on human rights in Palestine, and should also meaningfully incorporate children’s perspectives in their approaches.
This sentiment was emphasised in the closing remarks, with another Palestinian child representative Zain noting that children should have a role in making the decisions that affect their lives. Zain concluded the event with a powerful reminder: “Children are not only the future. We are here today, we are part of society today, and our voices matter today.”
International monitoring clearly documents Israel’s grave and systematic human rights violations against Palestinian children. The international community must translate this evidence into concrete action to protect the rights of Palestinian children, prevent further atrocities, and seek justice and accountability. Children’s experiences and stories must be at the centre of this effort.
Watch the Event
Watch the recording of the side event on our YouTube channel.
