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Summary: International Conference "Kids Behind Bars":
30 June - 2 July 2005. Opening speech of DCI
Palestine General Director George Abu Al-Zulof.
Ahlan wa sahlan. Welcome to you all.
What an honour it is to have so many dear friends with us here today in
this, the first DCI ā Palestine international conference, āKids Behinds Bars ā
a child rights perspectiveā. We really appreciate the effort so many of you
have made to come to Bethlehem, and we do know what an effort it is.
We are delighted to have here representatives from across the world,
although perhaps not as many as we would have liked. A number of our
overseas colleagues have been unable to get visas from the Israeli
occupation authorities. While many of you have travelled across
continents, some of our Palestinian colleagues in cities only kilometres
away have also been unable to attend as a result of movement restrictions
imposed on our people.
However, letās leave the immediate political issues aside for now ā Iām sure
there will be plenty of time to discuss these during your time here with us.
Letās rather focus on what we are here to achieve. We have here before
us a real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of millions of children
across the world who find their core rights threatened when they come
into conflict with the law.
Gathered among us is a remarkable wealth of child rights experts. We
have representatives from local and international NGOs and government
bodies, from UN-related bodies such as UNICEF, the Office of the High
commissioner for human rights and the UN Committee on the Rights of the
Child, as well as professionals working on the front line of juvenile justice -
judges, lawyers, social workers and many other key workers. Last but not
least, we have the children. We are honoured to have with us more than
100 children fresh from DCI-Palestineās 3rd National Childrenās Conference
which took place earlier this week in Bethlehem. Their contribution will be
vital in guiding our deliberations in the next few days.
Together, we hope to turn this knowledge and experience into strategies
for concrete action, so that when we leave in three days time, we not only
have a better understanding of the issues at stake, but also a better idea
of how to go about tackling these issues and protecting and empowering
children, wherever they may be.
Before we begin, let us take the time to remember the millions of children
all over the world who have lost their lives ā because of poverty, because
of war, because of the absence of justice. In particular, here in Bethlehem,
we also remember the more than 700 Palestinian children who have lost
their lives during this current intifada. Let us now stand together for a
minuteās silence as a mark of respect for them and all the children who
continue to suffer today, wherever they may be.
Thank you very much.