Spotlighting Palestinian Children's Rights: Human Rights Defenders with a Child-Centric Perspective
This urgent child-centric hybrid event aimed to spotlight on the rights of Palestinian children living under occupation and in armed conflict. Through a child-rights perspective, the event focused on the multifaceted challenges faced by Palestinian children, including the impact of military occupation in the West Bank and the war in Gaza. It also addressed the responsibilities of states and the international system in supporting and protecting children’s rights, preventing crimes against Palestinian children, and ensuring accountability for violations.
2nd May 2024, 14:00 - 16:00 CEST
Panellists:
Welcome address: Mr. Jostein Hole Kobbeltvedt, Executive Director of the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights
Moderator: Mr. Alex Kamarotos, Executive Director of Defence for Children International (DCI)
Keynote speaker: Mr. Khaled Quzmar, President of the DCI Movement, General Director of DCI-Palestine and 2023 Rafto Prize Laureate
- Mr. Ahmad Abdallah, Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF)
- Dr. Rouba Mhaissen, Sawa for Development and Aid
- Dr. Raz Segal, Director, Associate professor of Holocaust and Genocide studies and Endowed Professor in the Study of Modern Genocide at Stockton University (by videoconference)
- H.E. Ambassador Marc Pecsteen De Buytswerve, Permanent Mission of Belgium to the United Nations in Geneva
- Mrs. Jana Urh Lesjak, Minister Plenipotentiary, Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations in Geneva
Action points:
- Advocate for Immediate Ceasefire: Push for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties and humanitarian crises in Gaza.
- Provide Humanitarian Aid: Mobilise international resources to supply food, water, and medical aid to Gaza, addressing the acute shortages and preventing further deaths from starvation and disease.
- Ensure Accountability: Support and reinforce mechanisms to hold Israel accountable for alleged crimes against humanity, including actions by international courts such as the ICJ and ICC.
- Protect Children: Focus on protecting children in armed conflicts, ensuring their rights to safety, education, and psychological support are prioritised in international responses.
- Promote Mental Health Support: Provide comprehensive mental health services to children in Gaza suffering from PTSD and other trauma-related conditions.
- Facilitate Safe Passage and Aid: Work with neighbouring countries like Egypt to streamline visa processes and reduce costs for Palestinians seeking refuge and medical treatment.
- Condemn Dehumanising Rhetoric: Actively denounce and combat dehumanising language and policies that exacerbate the conflict and contribute to further violence.
- Support International Investigations: Back the efforts of the International Commission of Inquiry and other UN bodies to investigate and document violations in the Palestinian territories.
- Decolonise Language and Mindsets: Encourage a shift in global narratives to recognise the full humanity and rights of Palestinians, rejecting biased and dehumanising terminology.
- Engage in Diplomatic Efforts: Use diplomatic channels to pressure for policy changes, enhance humanitarian protections, and push for a peaceful resolution based on mutual recognition of historical injustices and current realities.
Read the summary here.