On Thursday 25 November 2010, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, with support from UNICEF, concluded a series of awareness symposia on child rights and protection in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) which were held at the Cultural Center at the Khan Younis Municipality in Khan Younis district. The fourth symposia were delivered over three days under a project supported by UNICEF during the past three months. A group of Imams participated in these symposia.
Lawyer Mirvat An-Nahhal, coordinator of the 'Child Rights Awareness for Religious Leaders in the oPt Project', thanked the participants and stressed the importance of knowledge of the legal guarantees for child rights and protection under Palestinian and international law, the impact of negative discrimination on a child’s future, and the role of religious leaders in defending child rights and putting an end to acts that could harm children and threaten their rights.
Participants demonstrated clear interests in and commit to the symposia, and the topics sparked many interesting discussions. Participants called for enhancing activities related to respect for children’s rights in order to serve Palestinian children in the future.
These symposia form part of the 'Child Rights Awareness for Religious Leaders in the OPT' project, implemented by Al Mezan with support from UNICEF in the Gaza Strip. The project targets six groups of Muslim and Christian leaders. The project will conclude with two workshops during which participants shall discuss the ways in which they can apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the course of their work in order to enhance child protection in Palestinian society.
