Peace Not Walls: Detained Palestinian Children

MAY 2016 ACTION ALERT: URGENT ACTION NEEDED

Tell your representative to sign the McCollum letter asking President Barack Obama to appoint a Special Envoy for Palestinian children! He or she must sign by Friday, May 20.

An April 2016 report from Defense for Children International-Palestine states:

Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) collected affidavits from 429 West Bank children detained between 2012 and 2015 that show three-quarters of them endured some form of physical violence following arrest. In 97 percent of the cases, children had no parent present during the interrogation or access to legal counsel. Israeli police also did not properly inform them of their rights in 84 percent of the cases.

DCIP statistics show that at the end of February there were 440 Palestinian children in Israeli military detention. Seven of these children were being held under administrative detention, meaning they could be held indefinitely without charges or a trial.

We need to act on behalf of these most vulnerable members of society, and we have an opportunity to do just that. Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum has initiated a letter to President Obama, asking him to appoint a Special Envoy for Palestinian children.

Take action today! Ask your representative to add his or her name to this important letter.

Palestinian children living under occupation face crippling daily realities as well as dim prospects for their future – a situation that has fueled an escalation in violence in recent months. As the letter states: “The recent attacks against Israelis, including those perpetrated by Palestinian youth, are profoundly disturbing and must be condemned. … At the same time, the root causes of such violent acts must be examined and understood within the context in which they are taking place. Does a life of utter hopelessness and the collective psychological trauma associated with the Palestinian people living for decades under Israeli military occupation directly contribute to the violence?”

Act now to provide for a more hopeful future. Contact your representative today.

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