Ref: 45/2011

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is participating in
the July 2011 High-Level Segment of UN-ECOSOC on the implementation of
education related Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in the United Nations
Development Agenda. Below is the transcript of an oral intervention given by
Davide Tundo of PCHR regarding education in the occupied Palestinian territory.
There is also a corresponding report on education that was issued in
conjunction with the conference.

The video is available at
 http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2011/07/general-debate-high-level-segment-2011-ecosoc-4.html
 just move the timer to 2:58:38

The
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights-Gaza

Education
Denied:

Israel’s
Systematic Violation of Palestinian Children’s Right to Education

Mr. President,

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights of Gaza appreciates this
opportunity to address Israel’s systematic violation of the right to primary
education in the occupied Palestinian territory.

As result of Israel’s belligerent occupation, Palestinian children
are denied any meaningful education like all fundamental human rights of the
Palestinian population.

In the Gaza Strip in particular, Israel has carried out a policy of
isolation of the civilian population from the outside world and restricted the
entry of all basic items, including construction materials. As result, public
schools of all grades, like all civilian buildings, extensively damaged during
Israel’s military operation Cast Lead,
have not been rebuilt. This has provoked a shortage of classrooms and
overcrowding which have affected both access and quality of education. 

Furthermore,
the lack of drinking water and the extensive power cuts continue to afflict the
Gaza Strip, including educational institutions which continue to be exposed to
the indiscriminate Israeli fire, particularly in the border areas.

The Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip is indiscriminate,
unjustified under security grounds and clearly amounts to collective punishment
of the civilian population, prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention of
1949.

In Area C of the West Bank, a long-standing policy of home
demolitions has resulted in the massive displacement of many communities and
the disruption of all basic services, including education for children.

In occupied East Jerusalem, in particular, a chronic classrooms
crisis continues to affect access and quality of educational institutions of
the municipal system. As result many children are left without any form of
preschool and primary education.

This is in violation of Israel’s legal duties and in sharp contrast
with the state of education services in West Jerusalem, for which Israel
allocates huge resources.

This also highlights the apartheid
regime enforced in the city against its Palestinian residents. 

Mr. President,

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Israel’s actions with regard to the right to education are
inconsistent with its binding obligations under international law. The
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights asks that the international community, including
the members of the ECOSOC, take all appropriate measures to end Israel’s
repeated violations of international law which inhibit basic human rights,
including education, and development goals in the occupied Palestinian
territory.

I thank you for your attention Mr. President