The bloody and violent actions over the past decades in Palestine have affected the Palestinian children; their behavior, and their natural life.  After the February 1994 massacre at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron -- which was committed by a Jewish settler and led to the killing of 36 Palestinians -- the children of Hebron were shocked and their behavior has been dramatically changed.

       A team that is specialized in children's affairs manages the P.C.A.C, and a qualified board of trustees supervises this team.

Appeal

Dear Friends

We Write to you on behalf of palestinian children living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Things are happening around us . Events are happening around us too fast . Relatives and friends are falling everyday . sometimes we do not realize what is going on . but what we know is that nothing is like before . We are too afraid to go school and even if we go we have to come back home early . which is certainly going to effect the educational process . We are afraid from a lot of things .Our friends suffer from lack of food and medical care .

And there are others who have no social life , which is the right of any child to have .

So many questions come to the mind of every child homeland .Why is this happening to us What did we do wrong? Is it because our people are defending themselves ?Unfortunately we ask ourselves but no answers come to mind .

We are like children in other countries . We want to study and play and plan for our future But the Israeli occupation and the daily attacks are killing any hopes we  have for the future . We do not want to live like this.

We ask the international community to offer protection for us and for our people we want a healthy normal childhood we hope that is not too much to ask .

Friends , please act now to prevent more palestinian children from dying or getting injured

Dearest friend

Greetings from the holiest place in  this part of the world……

Greetings from the mouths of the children of Palestine…..

Greetings from the most tensest place in the world…….. 

I would like to thank you from the heart of the heart of all the children of Hebron and Palestine and from the friends and staff of the Palestine Child’s Arts Centre.. 

We are still alive, physically, Although we are under curfew, siege, bloodshed, difficult economic situation …But our children are still drawing…..They are drawing the image of the sun…but with red colour…. They still draw the unknown future …but with black colur ,and the nightmare of Muhammad Durrah is still accompanying them in their beds.

They still play….but with bullet covers and the remains of the bombing  of their houses..

They no longer climb the olive trees because the Israeli bulldozers have uprooted them…. 

They still smile….but with fear……they smile because they see life from a humanitarian point of view. They are still kids and do not understand the brutality of life.They ask me once, with innocent faces,Why did they kill Muhammad Durra??My lips were unable to utter any letter!!! 

They still believe that they are the children of the world…. Their problems are that they are Palestinians…. But they do not understand the ethnic differences,they do not understand the religious fundamentalism…. They do not understand the meaning of occupation. They want to feel free to feel “ the child of the world” 

It is still early for them to suffer from the brutality of occupation and of the other “ human beings”

 They still believe in the “Dream”, the dream to see their fathers strong and not beaten by others…. They can not accept the reality…. They want a symbol…… they want to bethe children of the world. 

Have they lost hope in peace .Do they know anything rather than peace. How can we ,the adults explain to them…?????? why are they killing their friends and schoolmates?

It is the DREAM….. it is the DREAM……. That will come to reality.

Israeli Violations of Palestinian Children's Rights in the years 1997-1998

 "Palestinian children have been living under systematic human rights violations since Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including Jerusalem) in 1967, and particularly during the Intifada." (p. 13; DEFENSE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL/ PALESTINE SECTION "Rights of Palestinian Children in Times of Peace")

 This report is about the Israeli human rights Violation of Palestinian Children in the years 1997-1998.

 1.)    Martyrs: In the year 1997, seventeen Palestinian Children were killed by Israeli soldiers, secret police or Jewish settlers. During 1998, DCI/ PS documented 14 Palestinian children in the age between 3,5 months and 18 years, who were killed by Israeli. Tables and graphs illustrate the dates. 

Art. 6 of the United Nations Conventions on the Right of the Child states:

"States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child."  

Eyewitnesses describe how the children were killed from the Israeli side. For example there is an eyewitness - report about the death of Ali, a 7 year old boy, which seemed to be really murder, because instead of aiming at his legs, an Israeli soldier aimed at Ali's head. And at Rachel's Tomb there were often situations that children were beaten or even that some Israeli fanatics opened fire at the children. There is no Palestinian military point to protect the children. 

2.)      Injured children: "Approximately 425 cases of injured children were reported in

1997, the majority of which were caused by Israeli soldiers: over 85% (370) by soldiers and 11% (46) by settlers." (p. 22) So the children are also involved in the political conflict. Most of the casualties were caused by rubber-coated metal bullets, which are potentially lethal. The Israeli Soldiers also use tear gas and live ammunition against Palestinian youth and children. Most of the year's casualties took place in Heron, because of political and religious reasons. There are about 400 Jewish extremist settlers, amongst over 120000 Palestinian. 80% percent was handed over to the Palestinians, but 20 percent is under Israeli control (in areas surrounding the Jewish enclaves). These partition leads often to violence and conflicts. "Settlers harass Palestinians on a daily basis. They attack innocent passers-by, and constantly try to seize more Palestinian land and homes in the city. The settlers, and their children, are armed and protected by the Israeli army, who has within its ranks members of the settler groups or comparable ideological factions. During the 31 years long period of the Israeli belligerent occupation of the city, a number of extremist settlers have carried out massacres, killing dozens of Palestinians. The Ibrahimi Mosque massacre of 1994 was but one of the worst of these attacks, which instigated cycles of suicide bombings by Palestinians in the years that followed." (p. 23)

 3.)    Landmines: "Since the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip started in June 1967, Israel planted the OPTs with landmines." (p. 26) Most of the landmine explosions' victims are children. They are playing with unknown objects without recognizing that there is a high danger. Most of the areas with landmines are under Israeli control. But the Israeli government didn't bear the responsibility for these areas. They have just marked the landmine fields and provided compensations for victims and their families.

4.)    Detained children: The exact number of children detained in Israeli prisons is unknown because the Israeli Authorities do not issue lists of political prisoners. It is further complicated by the continuing transfer by the Israel Prisons Authority of Palestinian detainees between its prisons, and between them and Israeli military run detention centers. The number of Palestinian children in Israeli jails and detention centers is supposed to 70 children. But imprisoned children are confronted with many problems. The living conditions are very hard: Malnutrition, insufficient hygiene, inadequate medical treatment and care. Moreover the right of education is violated because only the senior high school students are allowed to visit the school. It the children are released it is difficult for them to return to school. Most of them end up in the streets or are forced to enter the labor market. Another problem is that visits from their families require a special Israeli permission. These permissions are often refused under the pretext of "security". Last but not least detention leaves psychological marks that cannot be numbered. They need a long time to overcome about the psychological pressure and the psychological wounds.

 5.)    Raids: Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers' attacks on Palestinian property and institutions. Israeli soldiers destroy the Palestinians' houses, kidnap children, beating them to frighten them or without pretext. In Hebron are two schools near Jewish settlement, which are often aims of attacks by Israeli soldiers. Frequently they set their dogs at the school or attack teacher and pupils. In one occasion they destroyed the furniture, books and stamped at the Moslem holy book.

 6.)    Collective punishment, with emphasis on effects of closure on children: The Israeli government often isolated Palestinian villages, so that those children can't reach their schools in the next city. In addition to this they are denied access to medical care.

 The report is illustrated by list of tables and graphs. It includes also several annexes with the names and exact descriptions about injured and killed children.

 Source: DEFENSE FOR CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL/PALESTINIAN CHILDREN IN TIMES OF PEACE; Rights of Palestinian Children in Times of Peace", May 1999

To assist Palestinians in achieving their human rights

Probably the worst living-conditions of Palestinian are the refugee camps in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. There are projects to assist Palestinians in achieving their human rights, but a lot of things have to be changed before the situation can improve. Especially the children are affected by this situation. They don't get many diversions from the cramped conditions they are living. The refugee camps inhabitants have dealt with a variety of issues including; child labor, underage smoking, dropping out of school, the rights of girl-child, divorce and early marriage.

In the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank is the rate of marriages under 18 years very high. "Gaza's Beach Camp has one of the highest rates of early marriage in the Gaza Strip and the project aims to create partnerships amongst a wide cross section of residents and community groups to raise awareness of the negative impact of early marriage." (p. 12; The British Council "To assist Palestinians in achieving their human rights") The Women's Affairs Center (WAC) tries to raise the awareness of these problems by offering several workshops to Palestinian Authority, officials, judges, human rights activists and school principals. They also offered workshops to parents and both girls and boys of secondary school age, developing some points with them how to get this problem under control. "WAC's research concluded that girls were being married as young as fourteen, and that such cases of early marriage had a negative impact on issues related to women's health, education, empowerment and economic productivity." (p. 12; The British Council "To assist Palestinians in achieving their human rights")

 Child Labor

 Child labor is a big problem in Palestine. The awareness of this issue has to rise by the Palestinian people. It seems to be normal that the children are selling products on the market, that they are carrying heavy things, that they repair cars or that they are doing other hard work. In order to raise the awareness of the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Child Arts Center organized an exhibition for two weeks. Children took pictures of other children who were working. The exhibition was opened for two weeks and many visitors (often whole classes or kindergarten-groups) came to visit the exhibition.

 "Child Labor in the Palestinian society threatens to create a generation of parents that lack the necessary, basic awareness and skills to raise their children in a healthy way. Child labor has negative psychological and social effects on the children - the future mothers and fathers. Child labor also increases the number of uneducated and illiterate persons in the society since many children who work do not go to school. A field study carried out in the West Bank clearly showed the miserable social and economic realities of the working children's families. The children generally come from big families: the average number of persons in the families of the working children reaches 9,3 persons. This is higher than the average on the West Bank, which is estimated to approximately 6,7 persons per family. Another study made by the two researchers Khaled al-Nabris and Nisreen Khalaf from the Palestinian branch of the International Movement for the Defense of Children showed a low educational level of the families of working children. 27,6% of the members have not completed the first year of school while 45,2% have finished between one and six years."

                                                                                    (From Al-Quds 06.11.1998)

The Palestinian Labor Law

The Palestinian labor law no 16, passed in 1994 and applied in the Gaza Strip (it has not yet been passed in the West Bank) completely prohibits children under the age of 14 from working. It also prohibits them from entering work places. The law says that it is forbidden to use children under the age of 15 as labor force between seven o'clock in the evening and six o'clock in the morning and their effective working hours can not be more than six per day. It is also forbidden to have them work overtime, no matter the reason.

 Dangerous phenomenon

The spreading of child labor has become a dangerous phenomenon. According to the Central Bureau of Palestinian Statistics 6,6% of children aged  6-16 years are included in the labor force… and this increases the number of non-educated individuals in the society.

 Statistics

1.)    The Palestinian society is distinguished by its young population.

The first demographic survey carried out by the Central Bureau of Palestinian Statistics showed that 55% of the total West Bank population, which in 1996 reached approximately 1 608 000 persons, is 18 years old or younger.

 2.)    It is worrying that the high number 35,9% of the working children report that they are exposed to physical or psychological violence or both at the hands of their employers. When asked how they respond to the employers' violence 56,1% of the children answered that they ignore it, 24,4% respond with violence, 6,1% cry while 13,4 % apologize to their employer.

3.)    11,8 % of the children were arrested by the Israeli authorities while  working in Israel and more than half of them, 54,2%, had to pay fines

 4.)    33,4 % of the children themselves thought that child labor must be abolished.

 5.)    78,2 % of the children believe that labor work affects their education in a negative way while 15,3% believe it affects their education in a positive way.

The International Declaration of Children's Rights, issued by the General Assembly of the United Nations the 20^th of November 1959, states that children must be guaranteed protection from any kind of neglecting, cruelty and exploitation. Furthermore, children can not be traded with in any way, not be used, as work labor before a suitable age and they are not allowed to take up work that might be harmful to his or her growth either physically or psychologically. Experience has revealed that child labor has a negative influence on society's social, economic and political structure as well as  the future of its  young generation. Ultimately, child labor constitutes a clear violation of the most basic rights of children.

Child Slavery and Prostitution

 There are no problems with Prostitution and Child Slavery in this country, reasoned by the religion. The respect for women and children is very high.

The Palestinian National Theater 

There are only few cultural institutions for children. One of these cultural institutions is the "Palestinian National Theater". The tension between Jewish and Israelis had a serious negative effect on the culture, economic and social life in the whole country. 1996 the Israeli government decided to open a tunnel under the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Many Palestinian people demonstrated against this decision. During this peaceful demonstration tens of children and young people were killed and thousands were injured by the Israeli army.

The Palestinian National Theater offered several workshops (for producing moppets, shadow theatre, festivals, performances for disabled children) to increase the awareness of children's right. "The level of participation of children and families was remarkable. Based on the statistics of the PNT, the number of children and families who participated in the various activities of the festival is estimated at 35000 persons […] The high community participation may reflect a raise in community awareness and support to arts and puppet theatre." (p. 9f; The Palestinian National Theater "A Report on The Seventh International Puppet Festival; November 1997)

So there are not enough cultural offers for children and they lost the feeling to have their own culture. Often the Childrens talents are not discovered and they can't study any kind of arts. But there is a high demand for such offers. The Palestinian National Theater groups reported in 1997, 700 children coming to watch their performance but only 200-300 children could be accommodated. The Israeli authorities caused another problem. Some children living in the closured areas could not cross the checkpoint of the Israeli authorities and couldn't take part in the festival.

From the Palestinian children to the children in Norway

Hey you all

If the mouth is silent
The heart will speak
Really lovely people here down the streets…
Smiles on the faces when we meet

Like an apple in the tree
I promise I shall free
Just close your eyes and dream
And count one two three
Then open your eyes again, please
That you will find us in peace
…….Freedom

We will all miss you

Best wishes
Aya Badr (14)
The Palestinian Children
Palestinian Child Arts Center

www.pcac.net
pcac2000@hotmail.com

Statistics

  *      Its young population distinguishes the Palestinian society. The first demographic survey carried out by the Central Bureau of Palestinian Statistics showed that 55% of the total West Bank population, which in 1997 reach approximately 1,608,000 persons, is 18 years old or younger.

 *       Its worrying that the high number 35,9%of the working children report that they are exposed to physical or psychological violence or both at the hands of their employers. When asked how they respond to the employers' violence 56,1%of the children answered that they ignore it, 24,4%respond with violence, 6,1% cry while 13,4% apologize to their employer.

·                    The Israeli authority while working in Israel and more than half of them 53,2% had to pay fines arrested 11,8% of the children.

·                        33,4% of the children themselves thought that child labor must be abolished.

·                    78,2% of the children believe that labor work affects their education in a negative way while 15,3% believe it affects their education in a positive way.

 The International Declaration of Children's Rights, issued by the General Assembly of the United Nations the 20th of November 1959, states that children must be guaranteed protection from any kind of neglecting, cruelty, and exploitation. Furthermore, children can't be traded with any way, not be used as work labor before a suitable age and they aren't allowed to take up work that might be harmful to his or her health or that could hinder his or her growth either physically or psychologically. Experience has revealed that child labor has a negative influence on society's social, economical and political structure as well as the future of its young generation. Ultimately, child labor constitutes a clear violation of the most basic rights of children.

Child labor is a clear violation of the most basic rights of children.

 Let us stand together in support of the child 's right to education, health, and protection….

Dangerous phenomenon

The spreading of child labor has become a dangerous phenomenon. According to the Central Bureau of Palestinian Statistics 6,6% of children aged 6-16 years are included in the labor force…. And this increases the number of non-educated individuals in the society.

  Poverty is the main reason behind child labor. Increasing the family's awareness of the danger is the most effective way to work against it.

The Palestinian Labor Law

The Palestinian labor law no 16, passed in 1994 and applied in Gaza Strip (it has not been passed in West Bank) completely prohibits children under the age of 14 from working. It also prohibits them from entering work places  .the law says that it is forbidden to use children under the age of 15 as labor force between seven o'clock in the morning and their effective working hours can not be more than six per day. It is also forbidden to have them work over time, no matter the reasons. 

Nawwaf Amer.

Child labor in the Palestinian society threatens to create a generation of parents that lack the necessary, basic awareness and skills to raise their children in a healthy way. Child labor has negative psychological and social effects on the children -the future mothers and fathers. Child labor also increases the number of uneducated and illiterate persons in the society since many children who work don't go to school. A field study carried out in the West Bank clearly showed the miserable social and economical realities of the working children's families. The children generally come from big families: the average number of persons in the families of the working children reaches 9,3% persons. This is higher than the average on the West Bank, which is estimated to approximately 6,7 persons per family. Another study made by the two researchers Khaled al-Nabris and Nisreen Khalaf from the Palestinian branch of the International Movement for the Defense of Children showed a low educational level of the families of working children. 27,6% of the members haven't completed the first year of school while 45,2% have finished between one and six years.

(From al-Quds 06.11.98)

Palestine in the eyes of its children

Fourteen-year-old students at the Amman National School were asked to write about Palestine. Although teachers advised these students, they wrote without any adult interference. This is what they came up with:

Palestine in the eyes of its children
Farah, 14yrs.

The people in Palestine live in a state of fear because of Israeli aggression. Before the occupation, Palestine was paradise compared to other countries. It has a place for all religions. Palestine stayed a heaven until the Zionist aggression, which attacked the people and the beautiful land. The children live in continuous fear. In spite of that you always see them rebel and give their lives for their country.
Isn’t it the Palestinian child’s right to live an innocent life like the rest of the children of the world, and to give them the freedom to live their childhood instead of fear? Every day lots of innocent children, men and women are being killed while defending themselves against the Zionist bullets. If a Zionist soldier is killed, or a Zionist citizen, it becomes a problem all over the world.
But the blood of an innocent Palestinian child nobody cares.
If people would look at what’s happening around them they will feel how strong and courageous they are. We cannot imagine the idea of the children and people of Palestine fighting with stones while the Israeli soldiers fight with live bullets. And in spite of all that they (Palestinians) don’t give up their rights.

Maybe one day the Arab nation will wake up and fight the Zionist aggression and bring back Palestine, the haven that it was back to its people, so that the blood of the martyrs does not go in vain. The Palestinian land will always stay pure even if the enemy tries to desecrate the Holy Land. This is not going to stay a dream the time has come when Palestine will be brought back to its people.

Palestine in the eyes of its children
Muna, 13 yrs

On a sunny beautiful day during the summer holiday I went with my family to visit the Dead Sea in the Jordan valley. I sat with my family and had a wonderful time. When the sun went down I was watching it. I looked at the other side of the Dead Sea. I remembered Palestine and the days of wars and how they suffered because it was destroyed and Israel came in.

I had a very, very strange feeling for this land. I saw this land that was seized by the Zionists. My tears came down for this Holy Land. That every Arab should fight for it with his soul and blood and should be liberated from the hands of Zionism so that the children, women and old people live in peace instead of the harsh life they live under occupation.

We should unite because with unity we have strength. All the Arab nations should stand with one hand and get back the dome of the rock and where Jesus, the son of Mary, was born until we all become one Arab unity and stand together for our challenges which are facing our nations.

Palestine in the eyes of its children
Ali 13 yrs

I am a Jordanian child. I never lived in Palestine but my point of view is very important in my dreams and aspirations. The world is like a wheat field, every country is one wheat. We find the first world harvested with green wheat, bright and beautiful for the eyes. But the third world, most of its wheat has withered. This is Palestine. The Zionists stepped on it, destroyed the houses, killed the innocent. This clean, shiny soil became black, covered with blood and injustice.

The world is empty of justice and humanity and is full with injustice and selfishness. The Zionists cannot feel and think of the Arab children who lost the most important thing they own, which is their lives. Isn’t it logical that the soldier should feel sorry for the child? There is no meaning for that, this evil should stop. We should take our rights to live in stability and enjoy a decent life. We should take this white rose which is our right. This rose should not be plucked and planted in others’ lands.

Palestine in the eyes of its children
Khaled 14yrs

I sat down drinking my cup of coffee in the morning trying to read the daily paper looking for good news, hoping that one day I’ll find it. But nothing new. Nothing new in the peace processes. Somebody went for the peace process but immediately after such news, we read about suicidal incidents to defend between two countries which have peace between them.

When I remember Palestine, which never goes from our minds, and we remember the sufferings which the Zionists and their terrorists have done, shooting at people praying in the morning, killing a child whose defending himself with a stone on a Zionist soldier who was insulting the people (children of the stones) praying in front of the mosque. Children in their youth each one carrying their stone, waiting for the right moment to throw it on his enemy. A very sad site which never ends of killing and taking the rights of the civilians. When are we going to have peace which all the people of the world think of so that the situation will be controlled and the fighting will stop? When are we going to have Palestine back? It will never come back except by force and surprise, exactly the way they took it. We remember the freedom fighters that with their blood irrigated the land. Those who gave their life, fighting for their country. We’re going to get it back from the Zionists one day.

Palestine in the eyes of its children
Nada 14yrs