Ref:21/2022
Date: 25 August 2022
On Wednesday, 24 August 2022, the Palestine’s National Children Council- Gaza Strip, which is supervised by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), organized an initiative themed as: “Hear Our Voice: We Love Life If We Find a Way to it”, for advocating child’s rights in the Gaza Strip. This initiative was held following the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip to brief the international organizations and institutions operating in the Gaza Strip on the suffering of children due to the ongoing Israeli closure, recurrent attacks, and inhuman practices against Palestinian civilians in general and children in particular.
As part of the initiative’s activities, the Palestine’s National Children Council met with Mrs. Mirjam Mueller, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sub-delegation in the Gaza Strip. During the meeting, Zainab al-Hawra’ Abu Salama, a child, and head of the Council, thanked the ICRC for their quick response to the meeting and praised their significant role in protecting Palestinian civilians, including children, who are still paying the price for the ongoing Israeli occupation.
During the meeting, the children talked about the emotions of injustice and sadness they experienced with what happened to them and with the loss of their friends in the recent Israeli offensive, which has negatively affected all their rights. The children added that the Israeli closure and offensive, which persecute children, their rights and childhood, deprived them of their basic rights that they should enjoy like all children around the world.
For her part, Mrs. Mirjam Mueller, Head of ICRC sub-delegation in the Gaza Strip, welcomed the Children Council and expressed her pleasure to meet them and hear them explaining their issues and rights. She presented a detailed explanation of ICRC work, its humanitarian role of protecting civilians and providing humanitarian assistance to victims, their families and those affected by conflicts. Also, she talked about their role in following up the cases of detainees in the Israeli prisons; organizing family visits to the detainees; following up the victims of the recent escalation of hostilities and hearing and documenting their testimonies for the bilateral and confidential dialogue with parties concerned; and providing cash and in-kind assistance to the affected families in cooperation with the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Mueller added that the ICRC’s mission is not easy because of the many challenges they face during their humanitarian work; however, they will keep on doing their humanitarian work in protecting and assisting civilians. She hoped that the children can achieve their dreams to live in safety and pursue a better future for them and their families.
At the end of the initiative, the children handed a letter to Mrs. Mirjam Mueller, in which they called for the continuation of the efforts to protect them and their childhood and:
…… ….. ….. ….. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The Palestine’s National Children Council- Gaza Strip was established in 2021, under the supervision of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and in partnership with Save the Children. The council is a small and non-governmental body comprising children aged 12-17, representing the five governorates of the Gaza Strip. It aims to promote the genuine participation of Palestinian children in all issues related to their lives and empower them in order to improve and shed light on the status of children’s rights.
