Document Abstract
Published:
2010
Protecting Palestinian children from political violence: the role of the international community
How can UN and INGOs protect Palestinian children under occupation?
This paper explores the constraints that international and UN agencies face in protecting Palestinian children in the context of occupation, and the systematic appropriation of land and resources. The authors deem that Israel’s violations of International Human Rights Law (IHRL), including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), are abundantly evident on the ground.
The document emphasises that Palestinian children continue to be abused by settlers on their way to school, to be denied access to water sources, and to be arrested, tried and imprisoned. However, western donor governments generally choose not to challenge Israel on practices that put the lives of Palestinian children at risk. Instead, they prefer to support ad hoc efforts to improve conditions or equip families to cope with the intolerable.
As a result, an approach to child protection focused on response to harm rather than prevention currently prevails in the occupied Palestinian territory. Nevertheless, the authors warn that such an approach entails risk not only for young Palestinians but for UN and international organisations themselves. Alternatively, the authors suggest the following recommendations:
The document emphasises that Palestinian children continue to be abused by settlers on their way to school, to be denied access to water sources, and to be arrested, tried and imprisoned. However, western donor governments generally choose not to challenge Israel on practices that put the lives of Palestinian children at risk. Instead, they prefer to support ad hoc efforts to improve conditions or equip families to cope with the intolerable.
As a result, an approach to child protection focused on response to harm rather than prevention currently prevails in the occupied Palestinian territory. Nevertheless, the authors warn that such an approach entails risk not only for young Palestinians but for UN and international organisations themselves. Alternatively, the authors suggest the following recommendations:
- the current characterisation of the context of occupied Palestinian territory as one of development and state-building with elements of humanitarian aid should be re-examined
- INGOs and UN agencies should find a mechanism to ensure that the Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) functions in an accountable, equitable and inclusive manner
- there should be greater support for efforts to monitor Israeli institutions in which Palestinian children’s rights are regularly violated, such as courts, prisons, and police stations
- the potential to address the illegality of Israel’s actions should be explored in other countries
- the protection of Palestinian children should be made a primary consideration of the donors, and they should particularly care more about East Jerusalem.
