World Children’s Day: Ensuring Rights for Every Child
Today, November 20th, marks World Children’s Day, a day to celebrate the rights of children and to remind us of our responsibility to ensure that every child is guaranteed their rights. This year, we must remember the children of the Gaza Strip, where heavy bombardment and military operations by Israel have killed more than 11,000 people, 40 percent of them children.
Under international humanitarian laws and the Safe Schools Declaration, civilians—in particular children, schools, and school personnel—must be protected from the effects of armed conflict. Unfortunately, the children of the Gaza Strip are not afforded these protections. In the past decade, the region has seen a dramatic increase in violence, with more than 1,400 Palestinian children killed and thousands more injured since the start of the conflict in 2008.
The situation in the Gaza Strip is dire, and the effects of the conflict are far-reaching. The United Nations estimates that over half of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, with children particularly vulnerable to the effects of the conflict. The lack of access to basic services, such as healthcare, education, and clean water, has had a devastating impact on the lives of children in the region.
The situation in the Gaza Strip is a stark reminder of the need to protect the rights of children around the world. We must do more to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to live in peace and security, with access to the basic services they need to thrive.
We must also ensure that children are protected from the effects of armed conflict. The Safe Schools Declaration is a commitment by countries to protect schools and universities from military use during armed conflict, and to ensure that children are able to access education in a safe environment. This is a crucial step in ensuring that children are able to access their right to education, and to protect them from the devastating effects of armed conflict.
On World Children’s Day, we must remember the children of the Gaza Strip and take action to ensure that their rights are protected. We must also remember the millions of children around the world who are affected by armed conflict and take action to ensure that their rights are respected.
We must take action to ensure that all children are guaranteed their rights, including the right to education, health, and safety. We must also ensure that the Safe Schools Declaration is implemented in all countries, and that schools are protected from the effects of armed conflict.
On World Children’s Day, let us remember the children of the Gaza Strip and take action to ensure that their rights are respected. Let us also remember the millions of children around the world who are affected by armed conflict and take action to ensure that their rights are respected. Together, we can make sure that every child is guaranteed their rights.
