Rights of the Child – Human Rights Council tenth session – Press release (excerpts)

THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

Concludes Panel Discussion on Promoting the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Human Rights Council
AFTERNOON
11 March 2009

The Human Rights Council this afternoon continued its annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child with a panel discussion on achievements and obstacles in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the national level and concluded the debate, begun this morning, on promoting implementation of the Convention.

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Continuation of Interactive Discussion on Promoting Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the International Level

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IMAD ZUHAIRI (Palestine) stressed the alarming condition of children in Occupied Palestine. The international community was aware of the damage caused to children by the recent Israeli aggression in occupied Gaza, particularly involving psychological trauma. The last aggression caused the death of 314 children, the injury of 1,872 and the displacement of more that 112,000 children. The occupying Power had consistently failed in its legal obligation to offer protection towards the children of Occupied Palestine. Since the beginning of the Second Intifada in September 2000, the Israeli Occupation Forces had killed more than 860 children, including snipering a large number of Palestinian children, which constituted the direct targeting of children in violation of all relevant international standards. Palestinian children were denied a large number of their basic rights due to the continuous occupation, imposition of checkpoints and closure of territories, as well as the construction of the Wall, which prevented children's access to education and health care centres. The siege imposed on Gaza prevented the access and provision of their basic humanitarian needs. Israel's systematic violations of international legal standards were plunging Palestinian children into a disastrous and hopeless situation, in total impunity.

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TAHEREH NAZARI (Iran) …

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Violation of children's right in many parts of the world, in various forms, still continued. Children were often the victims of exploitation, violence and abuses. Moreover, children were vulnerable in the cases of armed conflict. The killing of hundreds of children in the recent 22-day Israeli blind attacks on the residents of Gaza was one of the biggest and most shocking atrocities, which targeted innocent Palestinian children. Rights could be established on paper – but they would lead to the realization of human dignity only if social action was taken. Hence, children's rights required conducive laws; social, economic and judicial policies; services; and cultural behaviour, if they were to become of practical value for children.

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For use of the information media; not an official record