Defence for Children International-Palestine receives the Rafto Prize 2023
Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) has been awarded the Rafto Prize for 2023 for their persistent work to defend and promote the rights of children living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
For over 30 years, DCI-P has investigated, documented, and pursued accountability for grave human rights violations against children; held Israeli and Palestinian authorities accountable to universal human rights principles; and advocated at the international and national levels to advance access to justice and protection for children. DCI-P provides legal aid to Palestinian children and each year represents an average of 150 children prosecuted in the Israeli military courts. DCI-P has also documented the denial of fair trial rights to Palestinian children and persistent accounts of torture and inhumane treatment in Israeli custody.
In October 2021, DCI-P was, along with five other Palestinian human rights organisations, designated as a terrorist organisation by Israeli authorities. Israel has not provided evidence to justify the claims. Despite the devastating targeting of its leadership, the smearing of its purpose, and the ransacking and destruction of its offices by Israeli authorities, DCI-P remains a crucial and long-standing force of progressive advocacy for Palestinian children.
Announcement of the Rafto Prize 2023 to DCI-Palestine
The Rafto Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the global promotion of human rights. The Foundation’s work includes awarding the annual Rafto Prize, give support to human rights defenders and give students human rights and democracy education.
The Rafto Foundation was established in 1987 in memory of Thorolf Rafto (1922-1986), and to continue his work for and commitment to human rights. The Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize for Human Rights (the Rafto Prize) has been awarded every year since 1987. During the first few years, the Rafto Foundation was mainly concerned with the struggle for human rights in Eastern Europe, because of Professor Thorolf Rafto’s engagement in the region. After the peaceful democratic revolutions that swept over Eastern Europe in 1989, the Rafto Foundation turned its attention further afield.
The Rafto Prize will be presented on Sunday 12 November 2023, at the Bergen National Theatre in Norway.
Watch the press conference here.
Find more information here.
