Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Child Protection System in Palestine
Strengthening the child protection system—especially for vulnerable groups—remains a national priority amid growing social and economic challenges, given its critical role in building a more cohesive and stable society. In this context, there is increasing emphasis on developing innovative, technology-based programs, alongside enhancing the capacities of professionals through practical, field-based training to improve service quality and ensure more effective case response.
This came during the signing of an agreement by Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development, with Terre des Hommes Switzerland, aimed at strengthening joint cooperation in child protection and advancing related policies and systems, thereby expanding services for the most vulnerable groups.
Dr. Hamad highlighted the importance of redirecting children engaged in risky behaviors at an early age toward positive pathways, noting that they possess strong potential and intelligence that require proper guidance. She pointed to programming education as a successful model for empowering youth—particularly from marginalized backgrounds—by equipping them with advanced skills in coding, design thinking, and leadership, enabling them to enter the labor market at an early stage.
She added that the ministry is working to enhance training and qualification mechanisms for its staff by focusing on on-the-job training, involving experts in the field, and accompanying social workers during real case management. This approach aims to improve service quality and strengthen adherence to professional procedures. She also stressed that staff continue to perform their duties despite economic challenges, driven by professional and humanitarian commitment, while noting the need to reinforce compliance with procedures and reduce errors caused by workload pressures.
The ministry also reviewed its efforts to expand services, including plans to operationalize new centers in Nablus and Halhul, despite limited resources, as part of its efforts to improve access and broaden social protection coverage.
The signing ceremony was attended on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development by Akram Al-Hafi, Assistant Undersecretary for Family Care and Protection; Doaa Wadi; and Mohammad Al-Qarm, Director General of the General Directorate of Childhood. Representing Terre des Hommes Switzerland were Tomas Pokor, Country Representative in Palestine (via video conference), along with Felicia Adeeb Saleh, Program Manager, and Mona Abu Sneineh, Access to Justice Specialist.
For his part, Tomas Pokor expressed pride in the ongoing partnership with the Ministry of Social Development, noting that TDH has been operating in Palestine for over 15 years, focusing on supporting children and strengthening protection systems in close collaboration with the ministry. He highlighted key joint achievements, including the development of child protection policies, training staff on their implementation, contributing to the update of the national referral system, and supporting centers through improved facilities and diverse training programs and activities for children.
Pokor added that this agreement represents an additional step toward deepening cooperation by improving the legislative and regulatory environment for child protection and strengthening community-based protection mechanisms, ensuring sustainable impact on children’s lives in Palestine.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration and coordination to further develop the child protection system in Palestine and expand services for the most vulnerable groups, ensuring a tangible and lasting impact on children and beneficiary families.
Latest News
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.
