UNICEF's Lack of involvement in the protection of Israeli children
In a letter to Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice calls upon UNICEF to uphold the principles outlined in the United Nations Convention On The Rights Of The Child, which guides UNICEF's mandate.
Specifically, we emphasize that according to the Convention, UNICEF must ensure that no child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment (article 37) and take all feasible measures to ensure the protection and care of children affected by an armed conflict (article 38).
While UNICEF has made public statements about supporting children in the Gaza Strip and emphasizing the critical need to protect them, we earnestly implore that equal attention and support be extended to Israeli children who are not collateral damage of the conflict but rather a deliberate target of these terrorist groups.
Disturbingly, numerous Israeli children, including infants, have lost their parents due to heinous acts of terrorism. This is the case of the 10-month-old twins of Itay and Hadar Berdichevsky, a young couple of 30, who placed their children in a hidden shelter when they heard terrorists at their door. The couple valiantly attempted to shield their babies from harm, but tragically, they were murdered during the attack. The twins survived the ordeal, left orphaned by this senseless act of violence.
Moreover, children, including babies, have been horrifically murdered by Hamas, as verified by various reliable sources, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who confirmed that dozens of Israeli babies were murdered, beheaded, and burnt by Hamas terrorists.
The lack of UNICEF's involvement in the protection of Israeli children is perplexing and unacceptable. We look to UNICEF to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the protection and well-being of ALL children in the region.
Islamic Extremism VS. Children's Rights
Islamic extremism has detrimental effects on the rights of children worldwide. Young boys and girls constantly are in danger and have their rights violated by groups such as ISIS and the Taliban. This graphic aims to expose the violations done unto children by Islamic extremism around the world.
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Sons of Violence - Palestinian Children
Violations of Children’s Rights Under the Palestinian Authority and Hamas
This report examines the degree to which the Palestinian governing authorities in the West Bank and Gaza adhere to United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC). With a population of 4,550,368 people in 2014 9 and 47.5% being under the age of 18 in mid-2013,10 the West Bank and Gaza have one of the youngest populations in the Middle East. According to both the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the World Bank, 40% of the population was under 15 11 and 30% aged between 15 and 29 in 2014. 12 In 2013, 70% of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza were under the age of 24. The implementation of the CRC in the Palestinian territories thus takes on even greater importance. The foremost current violations of children’s rights in the West Bank and Gaza as detailed in this report suggest that neither the PA nor Hamas intended to fulfill their international promises.