The Palestinian Ministry of Social Development participates in the World Children's Day conference in Amman.
Amman, 20-11-2024 – The International Conference on "The Role of the International Community and Civil Society Organizations in Promoting and Respecting Palestinian Children's Rights" kicked off today in the Jordanian capital, Amman. The conference, which will last for two days, is being held in cooperation with the Ministries of Social Development of Palestine and Jordan, with the participation of international parties, organizations, and human rights associations from the Arab and international communities, organized by the Arab League General Secretariat.
In her speech, Minister of Social Development Samah Hamad stated that more than 15,000 Palestinian children have been martyred, including 786 children under the age of one, while thousands remain under the rubble. Over 22,000 children have become orphans since the beginning of the Israeli occupation’s aggression on Gaza.
She added that hundreds of Palestinian families were completely wiped out and erased from civil registries, while thousands lost their lives due to the spread of diseases, epidemics, and the lack of medicine and water. More than two million citizens have been forcibly displaced from their homes multiple times.
Dr. Hamad further mentioned that the children of Gaza, who have endured displacement, hunger, and cold, no longer dream of having a home with a roof to protect them, but now only wish for a simple tent to shield them from the harsh winter and provide a little warmth they miss.
She continued, stating that a child in Gaza begins his day without being able to wash, as there is no clean water, and without breakfast, and often without shoes to protect his small feet. The child leaves the tent and stands in a long line for hours to either get a little water or a plate of food. From 6 AM until 5 PM, he waits for his turn, and if he's lucky, he might get enough to satisfy his hunger and that of his remaining loved ones. But often, he returns without food, water, or hope, with sadness and deprivation filling his eyes. At the end of this long, harsh day, with no glimmer of hope, he lies down between his parents' graves, seeking warmth and tenderness.
Dr. Hamad also highlighted that the Palestinian government, with the leadership of the Ministry of Health and support from WHO and UNICEF, managed to carry out polio vaccination campaigns even amid continuous bombardment, targeting about 650,000 children, in an attempt to protect them from a disease that Palestine had eradicated since 2004, after the last case was diagnosed in Gaza in 1984, but which has now returned to threaten children due to the ongoing aggression.
She added, "We launched an electronic education program, which reached over 270,000 students studying from their tents or the remains of their homes, and we are working to expand it to include 600,000 children. We continue our relentless efforts with our partners, including UN institutions and relief organizations, especially the Hashemite Jordanian Charity Organization, to provide humanitarian aid to our people in the Gaza Strip, including food, healthcare, clean water, and financial assistance provided by the Ministry of Social Development."
For his part, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ashraf Al-A'war confirmed that the Palestinian child, especially in occupied Jerusalem, suffers systematic violations by the Israeli occupation, including killing, arrest, torture, home demolitions, and attempts to erase Palestinian identity through the imposition of distorted curricula.
He added that the Israeli occupation shows no respect for international laws or human rights conventions, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
He reviewed the main violations against Jerusalemite children, including arbitrary arrests, where 696 children were arrested in occupied East Jerusalem this year alone, field executions, where the occupation has killed 49 Palestinian children since 2014, house arrest, and expulsion, which affected more than 600 children last year, as well as torture during detention, including beatings, psychological abuse, and deprivation of basic rights.
Al-A'war also addressed the imposition of Israeli curricula aimed at erasing Palestinian identity and promoting the Israeli narrative, the daily harassment Palestinian children face at military checkpoints, and house demolitions that leave children homeless and have devastating psychological effects.
He emphasized the government's efforts to support the steadfastness of Jerusalemite children and their families through legal, rights, educational, and health services, and to raise awareness of Israeli violations in international forums.
Palestinian Permanent Representative to the UN Riyad Mansour also called for continued pressure on the international community and international organizations to stop the occupation’s crimes against the Palestinian people and to add Israel to the UN "List of Shame" for its violations of children's rights.
In turn, Jordanian Minister of Social Development Wafa’ Said Bani Mustafa stated that Jordan will continue to support humanitarian and relief efforts for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, while working towards stopping the aggression through regional and international initiatives.
Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Haifa Abu Ghazaleh noted that the conference is part of ongoing Arab efforts to provide legal protection for Palestinian children, emphasizing the need for the international community to work together to provide aid to the Palestinian people and create a safe environment for Palestinian children, in line with international treaties and conventions.
The conference will discuss several topics related to the occupation's violations against children in Palestine, the actions of the public prosecution in documenting these crimes, the role of UNRWA in protecting the rights of children in refugee camps, and the role of the international community and civil society organizations in safeguarding Palestinian children's rights, along with testimonies from children during the ongoing aggression.
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MoSD Announces the Launch of Procedures to Develop a Regional Ageing Index in Cooperation with ESCWA
Ramallah – Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief, Dr. Samah Hamad, announced that the Ministry of Social Development has initiated procedures to develop a regional ageing index in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The initiative aims to develop a regional tool to measure the situation of older persons and identify their needs, contributing to the development of policies, programmes, and services provided for them. Dr. Hamad affirmed that the Ministry has given this project high priority at the current stage, given its importance in strengthening the data system related to older persons and providing scientific indicators that help assess their situation, identify their needs, and support evidence-based planning and policymaking, thereby improving the quality of services and social protection provided to this group. She explained that the project builds on the discussions held during the workshops organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with the participation of national focal points on ageing and older persons, as well as national statistical offices from Arab countries. These discussions underscored the importance of developing a unified regional index that serves as a scientific reference for measuring the situation of older persons and monitoring progress in protecting their rights and improving their quality of life. Dr. Hamad added that the index will support the Ministry's efforts to develop national policies and programmes for older persons by strengthening the use of data and statistics in setting priorities and guiding interventions, in line with the demographic changes and the social and humanitarian challenges facing the region. She noted that the Ministry has begun completing the necessary technical and administrative procedures for implementing the project through coordination with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, in accordance with the approved mechanism for cooperation with ESCWA, in preparation for the commencement of joint work on developing the index. Dr. Hamad emphasized that the development of the index reflects the Ministry of Social Development's commitment to strengthening cooperation with regional and international institutions and benefiting from technical expertise in developing modern data-driven tools that support the rights of older persons, contribute to building more efficient and responsive social policies, and enhance their quality of life and dignity.
MoSD Signs Agreement with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society to Strengthen Protection Services
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development today signed a cooperation agreement with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS), with support and funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), aimed at strengthening the protection system for women and girls and ensuring the continuity and development of protection, case management, psychosocial support, and empowerment services. The agreement seeks to improve the quality of services provided, particularly for women and girls who are survivors of violence or at risk of violence. The signing ceremony was attended by Akram Al-Hafi, Assistant Undersecretary for Family Care and Protection; Mohammad Al-Qarm, Director General of the General Directorate of Family Affairs; and Hiba Jebat, Head of the Gender Unit. Representing the Palestinian Medical Relief Society were Dr. Suhail Aqabneh, Director General; Dr. Jameel Hamad, Jenin Area Director; Dr. Maryam Sawalmeh, Programmes and Projects Coordinator; and Bahia Omrah, Director of External Relations and Projects. Also in attendance were Shruti Ho, Assistant Representative and Programme Manager at the United Nations Population Fund, and Sana Assi, Gender Analyst. The agreement provides a framework for cooperation between the Ministry and the Society to strengthen protection services for women and girls, ensure the continued operation of the Protection Centre in Jenin Governorate, and provide case management, psychosocial support, awareness-raising, and empowerment services. It also includes capacity-building for staff and the development of service delivery mechanisms. Funded by UNFPA, the agreement provides for the recruitment of 15 staff members, including 13 personnel whose previous contracts had ended to ensure the continuity of protection services, in addition to creating two new positions to support the Protection Centre in Jenin Governorate, without imposing any direct financial obligations on the Ministry of Social Development. Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief, Dr. Samah Hamad, stated that the agreement represents an important step toward strengthening the social protection system and enhancing services provided to women and girls, particularly survivors of violence. She noted that programmes addressing the protection of women and children are among the most complex and sensitive programmes implemented by the Ministry in light of growing humanitarian and social needs. She stressed that strengthening partnerships with civil society organizations and international partners is a fundamental pillar for ensuring the continuity and further development of services, while guaranteeing their accessibility to the most vulnerable groups. For his part, Dr. Suhail Aqabneh, Director General of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, stated that the agreement reflects the long-standing partnership between the Society and the Ministry of Social Development and contributes to ensuring the continuity of protection and psychosocial support services, particularly in Jenin Governorate. He affirmed that the Society will continue working alongside the Ministry to further develop services and reach those most in need, ensuring a more effective and sustainable response. Meanwhile, Shruti Ho, Assistant Representative and Programme Manager at UNFPA, reaffirmed the Fund’s continued support for the Ministry of Social Development in strengthening protection services for women and girls. He noted that the agreement’s funding is intended to ensure the continuity of essential services and strengthen the capacities of national institutions. He also highlighted that UNFPA is working to assess and improve services provided through safe spaces for women, contributing to better service distribution and enhanced access for beneficiaries. The parties affirmed that the agreement marks an important step in strengthening partnerships among government institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners, contributing to the development and sustainability of social protection services. They also stressed the importance of continued coordination to ensure that protection, psychosocial support, and empowerment services reach women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
