Dr. Samah Hamad Discusses Strengthening Cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Palestine’s Commitments Under International Human Rights Treaties
Ramallah – Minister of Social Development and Relief, Dr. Samah Hamad, met Mr. Ajith Sunghai, Head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Palestine, in the presence of the Ministry’s Undersecretary, several ministry officials, and Ms. Rafeef Mujahid, Human Rights Officer at OHCHR. The meeting focused on mechanisms to enhance cooperation between the two parties, particularly regarding Palestine’s reporting obligations to human rights treaty bodies, coordination for training ministry staff to strengthen their knowledge of human rights, and access to the National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD), which compiles recommendations issued to Palestine by human rights treaty bodies. The NRTD serves as a tool for states to track and follow up on recommendations from international human rights mechanisms.
Minister Hamad began the meeting by highlighting the government’s relief and recovery efforts, emphasizing that the government’s operations room in Gaza has made significant progress in coordination and decision-making mechanisms. She noted that the operations room includes key international organizations such as UNDP, OCHA, UNRWA, and the World Bank. Over the past six weeks, the operations room has engaged with approximately 35 international institutions, reflecting the growing importance of joint efforts in addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
She explained that the government’s operations room is coordinating efforts to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the most affected populations, despite major challenges such as crossing closures, fuel shortages, and restrictions on the entry of heavy equipment needed for debris removal. She added that field teams have started organizing shelter centers, providing essential services, employing workers through "cash-for-work" programs, and updating the social registry of affected families to ensure that aid reaches those in need.
On the issue of protecting women in Gaza, Minister Hamad addressed reports from civil society organizations indicating that local authorities are no longer handling gender-based violence (GBV) cases, with full responsibility now placed on civil organizations. She affirmed that the Ministry is closely monitoring this issue to ensure an effective response to protect women and vulnerable groups, noting that Gaza has now begun implementing the same regulations in this regard as those applied in the West Bank.
During the meeting, Minister Hamad stressed the importance of Palestine’s submission of reports to human rights treaty bodies, emphasizing that this is a fundamental part of Palestine’s national and political responsibility. She underscored that these reports serve as a strategic tool to advance the Palestinian cause on international platforms and highlight violations committed against the Palestinian people. The minister explained that submitting these reports enhances Palestine’s position as an active member of the international community and plays a crucial role in documenting Israeli occupation violations, thereby supporting international efforts for justice and accountability. She also emphasized that Palestine’s commitment to reporting to human rights treaty bodies is vital for strengthening Palestinian human rights, as the government integrates treaty body recommendations into national policies, plans, and legislation.
The meeting also discussed the importance of establishing a training plan to reinforce human rights mechanisms within the Ministry of Social Development. Two training programs were proposed: the first targeting all employees in relevant ministry departments to strengthen human rights awareness, and the second aimed at preparing the national team for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) ahead of Palestine’s review by the CRPD Committee in August 2025. Additionally, training sessions for the ministry’s specialized internal team were discussed to enhance staff capacities and readiness for treaty discussions.
Regarding the government’s use and access to the National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD), Minister Hamad stated that the Ministry of Social Development was the first to utilize it. She noted that the national implementation plan for recommendations related to the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been uploaded electronically to the database, with the national child team trained on its use. The database is continuously updated by the ministry and other national team members. She emphasized the need for a specialized ministry to oversee the database to ensure its continuous operation and broader use at the national level.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister Hamad reaffirmed the importance of sustained cooperation between the Ministry of Social Development and OHCHR. She stressed the need to accelerate access to the NRTD, implement training programs to promote human rights awareness within the ministry, and continue coordination efforts to support humanitarian relief and social protection initiatives in Gaza, contributing to the resilience of the Palestinian people amid ongoing challenges.
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On the International Day for the Elimination of Child Marriage, MoSD Affirms: Protecting Girls Begins with Education, Protection, & Family Empowerment
Ramallah – On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, the Ministry of Social Development emphasized that child marriage cannot be addressed in isolation from the broader social protection system, as it is linked to multiple factors, including poverty, school dropout, domestic violence, loss of parental care, displacement, and weakened protection networks. The Ministry explained that its role includes protecting children and girls at risk, providing case management, family interventions, psychosocial support, and referral services, and connecting families with assistance, essential services, and economic empowerment programmes. It also coordinates with relevant authorities when the safety of a child or girl is at risk. The Ministry places the best interests of the child and protection from exploitation and abuse at the heart of its child protection services. The Ministry stressed that preventing early marriage also requires protecting families from poverty and economic shocks, supporting girls' continued access to education, raising awareness of their rights, and strengthening families' ability to cope with pressures without resorting to practices that may expose girls to long-term physical, psychological, and social risks. The issue is particularly concerning in the Gaza Strip, where the Ministry warned that the loss of parental care, displacement, extreme poverty, and the declining capacity of extended families to provide care and protection increase children's vulnerability to various forms of exploitation, including early marriage. In this context, the Ministry continues to work with local and international organizations involved in child and women's protection to strengthen early intervention, referral pathways, alternative care, and psychosocial support, alongside assistance to the most vulnerable families to reduce the risk factors that may contribute to early marriage. The Ministry called for child marriage to be addressed as a child protection and human rights issue requiring coordinated action among families and social, educational, health, and legal institutions. It also called for increased investment in girls' education, protection, and empowerment to safeguard their right to grow, learn, and make decisions about their future freely and safely.
On World Children's Day, MoSD: Palestinian Children Face Harsh Realities of Loss, Displacement, Violence, & Deprivation
Ramallah – On the occasion of World Children's Day, observed annually on 20 November, the Ministry of Social Development emphasized that Palestinian children are facing extremely harsh conditions amid the continuing consequences of the Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip and escalating attacks, displacement, home demolitions, and movement restrictions in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. These conditions have deprived children of their lives, families, shelter, education, care, and safety. According to available United Nations data, at least 21,700 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip, while approximately 45,000 have been injured, including more than 11,000 children who have sustained life-altering injuries. Meanwhile, thousands of families continue to experience repeated displacement and deprivation of essential services. In the West Bank, including Jerusalem, children continue to face attacks, forced displacement of families, and damage to schools, homes, and infrastructure. More than 1,700 children have been displaced since the beginning of 2026 as a result of settler violence, movement restrictions, and demolitions. The Ministry stressed that the consequences of war and occupation extend beyond immediate casualties to include bereavement, family separation, hunger, school dropout, child labour, violence, exploitation, acquired disabilities, and psychological and social distress. These risks require a comprehensive and long-term child protection response. The Ministry explained that child protection is a central pillar of its work, implemented through Child Protection Departments in its directorates. These departments receive reports, assess levels of risk, provide case management and family follow-up, facilitate referrals to specialized services, and intervene in cases of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Their responsibilities also include protecting children engaged in labour or begging, children who have dropped out of school, and children in conflict with the law, in coordination with relevant government authorities and partner organizations. In the Gaza Strip, children's protection and care needs have intensified significantly, particularly among orphans, children deprived of parental care, separated and unaccompanied children, and those requiring psychosocial support. In cooperation with its partners, the Ministry is working to provide alternative care, social follow-up, sponsorship programmes, psychological support, and food, health, and in-kind assistance, while strengthening and restoring child protection services across the Gaza Strip. The Ministry emphasized that protecting children is inseparable from protecting their families. Accordingly, child protection services form part of a broader social protection system encompassing food, cash, and non-food assistance, health insurance, education, school bags and stationery, psychosocial support, services for persons with disabilities, and family economic empowerment. These interventions aim to reduce the risks associated with poverty, displacement, loss of income, and family instability. The Ministry of Social Development called on the international community, United Nations agencies, humanitarian organizations, and donors to provide sustainable support for the Palestinian child protection system. It urged continued funding for alternative care programmes, orphan sponsorship, psychosocial support, education, nutrition, and rehabilitation, alongside support for Palestinian national institutions capable of reaching children and families and ensuring sustained follow-up. The Ministry concluded by emphasizing that World Children's Day cannot be merely an occasion for celebration while Palestinian children are deprived of their most fundamental rights. It stressed that protecting children begins with safeguarding their right to life and extends to ensuring their rights to family care, shelter, food, education, healthcare, protection, and social support.
