UN Special Representative of Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Concludes First Visit to Israel, State of Palestine – Press Release

Children and Armed Conflict – Report of the Secretary-General (A/76/871–S/2022/493)

New York, 16 December 2022 – The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children and armed conflict (CAAC), Ms. Virginia Gamba, completed a 5-days mission to Israel and the State of Palestine. The visit follows up on the recommendations of the Secretary-General contained in his latest Annual Report on CAAC of June 2022 (paragraphs 302 and 303) requesting the parties to engage with the UN Special Representative to end and prevent grave violations against children and adopt clear and time-bound commitments.

During her visit, Virginia Gamba engaged with all parties to the conflict in the Israel and State of Palestine mentioned in the Annual Report in meetings held at Gaza, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Tel Aviv. She discussed all grave violations against children with the parties as well as possible measures to urgently strengthen the protection of children in Israel, the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.

“Children in the State of Palestine and Israel are disproportionately affected by the armed conflict and endure several violations of their rights. Killing and maiming, denial of humanitarian access, recruitment and use, and attacks against schools and hospitals all leave deep scars on children that experience the violence of the armed conflict. The tragic death of 15-year-old Jana Zakarneh, for example, should remind us of the urgency to better protect children and keep them safe. We need to do more for those children and provide them with protection as well as safe spaces for their well-being and education rights, which should be a priority,” said Virginia Gamba.

She added that lasting peace was the primary tool to protect children from the harms of conflict and called on all parties to urgently put in place measures to prevent violations and improve the protection of all Palestinian and Israeli children.