October 2, 2006

GENEVA October 2 2006 - Defense for Children International/Palestine Section (DCI/PS) said that 2006 risks are being the bloodiest year for Palestinian children since the beginning of the Israeli Occupation in 1967.

In a press release, on Monday, DCI/PS PS pointed out that it was invited to address the Committee during its forty third session to discuss the violation of Palestinian children's rights by Israel outside of Israel's reporting schedule to the CRC.

It added that DCI was allowed a special audience with the CRC in light of the urgent situation facing Palestinian children as a result of Israel's on-going military campaign.

In its oral statement, DCI/PS focused mainly on the situation for children in Gaza under the current Israeli offensive operation "Summer Rain", which began on 25 June 2006, the press release mentioned.

The statement highlighted the notable trend arising from the data systematically tracked by DCI/PS suggesting that if the death rate among Palestinian children continues to rise on its current trajectory, 2006 risks being the bloodiest year for Palestinian children since the beginning of the Israeli Occupation in 1967, it added.

"Significantly, DCI/PS fieldwork also indicates that in the overwhelming majority of cases, Palestinian children were killed while not posing a threat in any way to the security of Israeli soldiers or civilians."

In addition to the acute situation in Gaza, Israel has not heeded any on the Rights recommendations laid out by the Committee of the Child concerning Israel's implementation of the rights of Palestinian children under its jurisdiction in its concluding observations following Israel's initial report to the Committee in 2002.

The press release said that Israel has continued its systematic practices in violation of its international human rights and/or humanitarian law obligations throughout the OPT such as extrajudicial executions, resulting in the killing of child bystanders, employment of disproportionate force against children as well as arrest of hundreds of children without the most basic due process guarantees.

It added the creation of restrictions to mobility which hinder the realization of children's rights from access to education and of humanitarian aid as well as the humiliation of children and their families.

Furthermore, the culture of impunity through governmental inaction to launch appropriately constituted criminal investigations for unlawful conduct by Israeli military/security personnel has been further bolstered by the amendment of the 1952 Israeli Civil Wrongs (Liability of the State Law which prevents Palestinians from seeking civil compensation for damages to life and property, the press release said.

It added "Despite the 6 July resolution of the UN Human Rights Council to dispatch Prof. John Dugard, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, to the OPT, on an urgent fact-finding mission Israel has refused permission for this visit".

The press release concluded "In light of this refusal, DCI/PS called on the Committee on the Rights of the Child to conduct a country visit to OPT to assess violations of the rights of Palestinian children by Israel. Such a mission would ensure that the plight of Palestinian children is not overlooked.