Ref: 26/2023

Date: 12 April 2023

To mark Palestinian Child’s Day, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) conducted five consultative workshops from April 2 to April 11, 2023. The workshops were attended by representatives and directors of 45 community-based organizations (CBOs) that work with children, particularly in the marginalized areas of Gaza’s five governorates.

The workshops were held under the project “Strengthening the Role of CSOs to Fulfill Children’s Rights,” which is a collaboration between PCHR and Save the Children, and is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

The main objective of the workshops was to facilitate productive and comprehensive discussions with partner community organizations on various issues related to Palestinian children’s rights. The workshops focused on identifying challenges that hinder the realization of these rights and exploring collaborative approaches to tackle child rights violations and enhance the wellbeing of Palestinian children. In addition, the workshops aimed to foster children’s leadership skills, specifically their ability to monitor, report, and document violations they face, and to hold authorities and stakeholders accountable for the protection of their rights according to international conventions. Another key outcome of the workshops was the development of a comprehensive advocacy plan that aims to advance the realization of Palestinian children’s rights.

The consultative workshops also involved discussing the project’s future plans for the coming years. A major focus was placed on the importance of involving community-based organizations and children in the planning process to ensure that the project’s objectives are aligned with the best interests of the child. The workshops also emphasized the need to prepare and implement various activities and initiatives to enhance the realization of children’s rights in Palestine. Additionally, the workshops explored strategies to strengthen the Palestine Children Council by broadening the participation of children and increasing the number of members in the Council’s General Assembly.

The consultative workshops featured numerous interventions and discussions by directors and representatives of CBOs. The participants unanimously agreed on the importance of addressing various issues to advance the realization of children’s rights, including:

1. Encouraging children’s participation in the development of plans, programs, and policies that impact their lives through the formation of elected advisory bodies within partner organizations.
2. Ensuring a safe environment for children by adapting educational, health, and recreational facilities to meet the needs of children with disabilities in marginalized areas.
3. Strengthening efforts to prevent risks that threaten children’s right to protection, including protecting children from hunger and violence in all forms, child labor, child marriage, family separation, the effects of climate change on children, malnutrition, and providing access to healthcare services, potable water, and hygiene.
4. Raising awareness among children about their rights and related issues through targeted awareness initiatives.
5. Providing training to staff, children, and parents of partner organizations on protection policies, digital security, and safe technology use, as well as developing awareness programs on children’s rights.
6. Building capacity to monitor and report child rights violations, and establishing partnerships with global initiatives that promote accountability for crimes committed against children.
7. Continuing lobbying and advocacy efforts at the national and international levels to ensure protection for Palestinian children and the fulfillment of their rights as codified in the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.