Layan, a Child Advocate from Palestine, made a statement on behalf of DCI at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Annual Day of the Child.
Layan spoke on the everyday reality of life under occupation, highlighting the complete removal of a normal childhood for Palestinian children.
“Childhood should be about imagination and small dreams, but for many Palestinian children it has become about survival.”
Layan called for the protection of the right to life, food, education, healthcare, and safety. On behalf of Palestinian children, she stated, “Our request is simple: we want to live with dignity, to learn, to feel protected, and to move safely in our own land.”
DCI urges for stronger global action to protect children affected by armed conflict, including the need for accountability, reintegration, and child-centred recovery measures.
DCI thanks Layan for sharing her lived reality with the UN Human Rights Council and for demanding change.
Read the full statement here
Watch the statement here: