Zain, 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.
Zain spoke about the uncertainty of Palestinian existence and demanded adherence to international law.
“Every school day, I leave home early not to study more, but because I do not know how long the journey will take… Sometimes we wait at checkpoints for hours, are searched, or turned back without explanation. By the time we reach school, we are already exhausted not from learning, but from uncertainty.”
He called for the protection of international law to the right to education, protection, freedom of movement, and dignity- rights that are not afforded to many Palestinian children.
Zain reminded the council that “Children do not create conflicts, but we live with their consequences… We are children with dreams and futures”.
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 Zain for sharing his reality of uncertainty with the UN Human Rights Council and for demanding action.
Read the full statement here
Watch the statement here: