UNICEF – Safeguarding children’s rights in East Jerusalem

Palestinian children in East Jerusalem (EJ) are growing up under extremely difficult circumstances including movement restrictions, school closures and socio-economic pressure. Children are also at high risk of harassment and violence. Arrests of children occur frequently and often lead to ill-treatment and other violations. The rise of violence impacts negatively in a multitude of ways on the lives of Palestinians in the Westbank including East Jerusalem.

The proposed closing program phase will address the rights and needs of children through community level child protection & prevention response services, including in new “hotspots areas” in East Jerusalem. Services include mental health support for school counsellors, strengthening access to psychosocial support, and providing assistance to parents/caregivers. It also strengthens coordination of services through a case referral system that identifies at-risk children, provides timely legal aid, remedial education and extra curriculum activities to support them in maintaining a learning focus despite the many challenges faced.

15’000 vulnerable Palestinian children living in East Jerusalem at risk of being in conflict with the law and/or affected by the conflict and their caregivers.

The programme will target boys and girls of East Jerusalem aged 13-18 in areas under Israeli jurisdiction with focus on 9-10 Palestinian neighbourhoods (Old city, Silwan, Issawiya, Jabal Mukaber, Kufr Aqab, Beit Hanina, Wadi Joz, Al Tur and Shu’fat refugee camp).

1. Children at risk of conflict have improved access to coordinated community prevention and protection services
2. Evidence-based policy dialogue on the rights of children in East Jerusalem
3. Access of directly affected children and their families in East Jerusalem to rehabilitation and support services

Resultados previstos:  

1.1. Coordination mechanisms among key actors in EJ are in place for harmonized and complementary delivery of services to children at risk, worst affected and vulnerable.

1.2. Prevention programmes for at-risk children and their families in high-risk neighborhoods in EJ are developed and implemented 

1.3. Schools and communities ensure access to extracurricular and Early Child Development (ECD) programmes for vulnerable children in need

2.1 Monitoring of impact of situation on children takes place

2.2 Facilitate implementation of Joint evidence-based policy dialogue to improve the protection of Palestinian children in EJ, especially those at risk of, or in conflict with the law.

3.1 Children at risk or in conflict with the law as offenders are aware of their legal rights and access timely legal assistance.

3.2 Referral systems in EJ strengthened to identify vulnerable and at-risk children and ensure services are delivered.

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

1. Established a well-functioning Coordination Committee comprising of 20 active members in the field of child protection
2. Established an electronic system for centralizing and verifying data on children arrested/detained, indicted, and sentenced.
3. Established a case management system. Referral protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cases involving children in detention have been developed and piloted 
4.  Over 14,836 vulnerable and at-risk children (around 41% girls) and 4,193 adults were reached with rehabilitation and therapeutic services, remedial education, access to child-safe places, raising awareness of children and their families on child rights, resilience-building and recreational activities
5. 700 arrested children were referred to UNICEF prevention and protection services. 
6. 1’527 directly affected children benefitted from rehabilitation and legal support services.
7. 1,906 children received information on legal rights and access to legal services and 11,567 children have benefited from awareness raising and resilience building initiatives.

• Protection Cluster and its sub-cluster on Child Protection
• Humanitarian Country Team+ (HCT+), UN Task force on East Jerusalem
• Synergies with human rights and child rights organizations