Re: 44/2023

Date: 17 August 2023

On Tuesday, 15 August 2023, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) organized a ceremony to honor winning candidates in the (2023-2025) second elections for Palestine’s Children Council-Gaza Strip. The event was attended by representatives from Save the Children, Central Elections Commission (CEC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and partner child organizations, and male and female members of the General Assembly of Palestine’s Children Council.

These elections are part of project “Strengthening Children Participation in Writing Reports, Child Rights Monitoring and Accountability.” The project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and implemented by PCHR in partnership with Save the Children.

The elections were held in two stages, in accordance with the statute of Palestine’s Children Council, and lasted for 45 days. The voting was held in the first stage on 19 July 2023, to elect councils across the five Gaza Strip governorates. On Tuesday, the voting was held in the second stage to elect the council’s president, first and second deputies, as the new secretariat of the Palestine’s Children Council took office, and its term will be for 2 years.

The elections were conducted with the participation of CEC’s which formed a commission to supervise the elections,headed by Mr. Raed al-Samouni, representing the Regional Office of CEC- Gaza Strip, with the membership of 3 children from Palestine’s Children Council and representatives of child community organizations as well as Students’ Parents Council at UNRWA schools, and a representative from PCHR.

During the ceremony, the head of the commission, Mr. Raed al-Samouni, announced the winners in the elections of the secretariat of the Palestine’s Children Council – Gaza Strip, and the winning of Mais Abdel Hadi as the president of the council, Lama Abu Laila as her first deputy, and Ramiz al-Za’aneen as her second deputy. Al-Samouni also announced the names of children who won membership of the council’s secretariat, noting that they previously won in the governorates’ council elections. Moreover, the membership of the secretariat of the Palestine’s Children Council includes 3 members representing children from disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.

Mr. Hamdi Shaqqoura, PCHR’s Deputy Director for Program Affairs, inaugurated the ceremony and welcomed the attendees. He expressed how content he was with the elections that took place in a transparent and free competitive atmosphere among the candidates. Shaqqoura said that children nowadays are teaching us democracy at a time we have failed as adults to hold general and local elections. Shaqqoura stressed that PCHR’s work with children is a strategic investment that would create a generation aware of its rights and confident of the abilities and influence it has as a generation to make change.

Eng. Ali Shaqaleh, representative of Save the Children said: “Congratulations to all candidates who have participated in this democratic process and all the children groups across the Gaza Strip who have played a magnificent role in speaking for vulnerable and disadvantaged children and raising their voices. Your courage, enthusiasm, and commitment to make a positive change in our society is very inspiring for all of us and encouraging us to support you always.” Shaqalieh added that the members of Palestine’s Children Council have a distinctive opportunity to support the needs, rights and aspirations of their fellows and to provide new perspectives in all fields.

Dr. Yehya Al-Sarraj, Mayor of Gaza, said in his speech: “This is a happy day for Palestine and Gaza. We long for such a democratic atmosphere and we truly hope that it will prevail in all the national institutions and local councils. I will take this opportunity to send a warm and sincere greeting to the elected Palestine’s Children Council.” Al-Sarraj thanked all who were part of this beautiful, successful, and democratic experience and called on the Council to visit Gaza municipality soon.

Sama Abu Laila and Zainab Al-Hawraa Abu Salama, the former two presidents of the Palestine’s Children Council– Gaza Strip, thanked the Council’s General Assembly, who had trusted them in the previous term, and congratulated the winners in the second elections, passing the responsibility to them to carry on the journey in order to improve the reality of Palestinian children to enjoy all the rights codified in the Palestinian Child Law and the regional and international conventions which the State of Palestine has acceded. They also reviewed the achievements and work of the Council over the past two years, and recommendations to consider for the next phase.

Mais ‘Abdul-Hadi, the president of the newly elected Council for the second term 2023-2025, delivered a speech thanking the members of the General Assembly for giving her confidence, stressing that she will do her best to protect and promote the rights of the Palestinian children. She also called on all children to be one hand to strengthen the Council and create a better future for all children.

The ceremony included many performances and an operetta produced by the Council and titled “We Are Hope.”