Defence for Children International

📢DCI’s Annual Report 2023-2024 is out now! Highlights include child participation initiatives globally and efforts in gender equality empowering girls in local governance.

Find out more about DCI's work around the world here: https://bit.ly/4f7AXFZ

⚠ Last chance to register !

🙋‍♀️ Don’t miss the hashtag SHE LEADS side-event TOMORROW: "Closing gaps, opening doors: Promoting inclusive data collection for girls’ & young women’s leadership and participation."

Register here: https://bit.ly/3xI0QeA

📅 Save the date!

📢 Join us at our hashtag SHE LEADS side-event : Closing gaps, opening doors: Promoting inclusive data collection for girls’ & young women’s leadership and participation.

🙋‍♀️ Prepare to be inspired by four remarkable young women dedicated to championing gender equality: Bernice, Cecile, Coretta, and Dr. Sana Labal. Their expertise and unwavering commitment will leave a lasting impact.

Register now: https://lnkd.in/eN5myGj6

📅 Wednesday July 3rd
⏰ 3-4 pm CEST
📍 Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva

📢 At , on behalf of the She Leads Youth Cohort, Komorotou, a 22 yo Young Woman urges Member States to invest in safe, inclusive, and accessible national sports programs and facilities

🖋 Read full statement here : https://bit.ly/3L7ZIUQ

📢 At , DCI calls on member states to implement clear legal measures to prohibit de facto and de jure deprivation of liberty of children due to their legal or migratory status, as well as that of their families.

✏ Read full statement: https://bit.ly/3VLpxPt

📅 Save the date!

📢 Join us at our hashtag SHE LEADS side-event : Closing gaps, opening doors: Promoting inclusive data collection for girls’ & young women’s leadership and participation.

🙋‍♀️ Prepare to be inspired by four remarkable young women dedicated to championing gender equality: Bernice, Cecile, Coretta, and Dr. Sana Labal. Their expertise and unwavering commitment will leave a lasting impact.

Register now: https://lnkd.in/eN5myGj6

📅 Wednesday July 3rd
⏰ 3-4 pm CEST
📍 Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva

🔊 At the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, DCI urges all member states to demand an immediate and lasting ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip

📜 Read full statement here : https://bit.ly/3zj6STl

📢UN: New Report Finally Holds the Israeli Forces and Palestinian Armed Groups Accountable for Violations Against Children ! It highlights an unprecedented number of grave violations (an increase by 21%) against children in 2023.

➡ This inclusion in the Secretary-General’s report is a milestone and a long-overdue step toward accountability and justice for the numerous child victims of the conflict.

📘Read full report here : https://bit.ly/4b8eWUq

🌍Our June hashtag email newsletter is out today!

🔊 Available in EN, FR and ES, it covers the biggest updates from our global child rights movement.

🇬🇧: https://bit.ly/4aWlkOx
🇫🇷: https://bit.ly/3VoKPC5
🇪🇸: https://bit.ly/4ciETBt

📢 ✍ 22 NGOs sent an open letter to Secretary-General Guterres calling on him to ensure the publication of a complete list of perpetrators evidence-based and accurately reflects data collected and verified by the United Nations MRM !

✉ Full letter: https://bit.ly/4bVKDRy

🎉 Congratulations to Zeinebou Taleb Moussa and Benoit Van Keirsbilck on their election to the UNCRC! 🌟

The 20th Meeting of States parties and Elections 2024 took place on 23rd May 2024 in New York.

Nine Members, including Zeinebou Taleb Moussa and Benoit Van Keirsbilck have been elected as members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child for a four-year mandate to replace those whose terms are due to expire on 28th February 2025.

Their unwavering commitment to defending the rights of all children is truly inspiring. 👏

🌍 Our May email newsletter is out today!

🔊 Available in EN, FR and ES, it covers the biggest updates from our global child rights movement.

🇬🇧: https://bit.ly/3X1G186
🇫🇷: https://bit.ly/4atnBjS
🇪🇸: https://bit.ly/3VhtyfC

🌎 We were very happy and honoured to welcome in our office in Geneva the students of Leiden Law School in the Advanced Studies in International Children’s Rights (LL.M.) Master.

It was a pleasure to share with them insights from our work as children’s rights defenders and exchange about their career plans.

🙏 Thank you Prof. Ton Liefaard for your expertise and kindness, we are looking forward to your next visit !

🔊 On the occasion of the Rafto Laureate Forum, DCI is happy to be organising a hybrid event on 2nd May 14:00-16:00 CEST: “Spotlighting Palestinian Children’s Rights : Human Rights Defenders with a Child-Centric Perspective.” Panellists include the General Director of DCI-Palestine, Rafto Prize winner 2023, Khaled Quzmar.

➡ This event aims to :
• Raise awareness about the challenges faced by Palestinian children in conflict zones.
• Advocate for the protection and promotion of children's rights in accordance with international conventions.
• Foster dialogue among stakeholders to identify practical solutions and strategies for supporting Palestinian children.
• Mobilise international support and resources to address the immediate needs and longterm well-being of Palestinian children affected by conflict.

👉 It’s not too late to register for online participation ! Send an email to [email protected] if you are interested.

Exciting news from Rabat, Morocco! 🌍

Last month, Alexandre Kamarotos & Cecile Pilot from DCI-IS joined forces with DCI-Morocco's Bayti director Yamna Taltit & Ana Habiba Dahbi from AIDA.

➡ Together, they're advancing justice for children by starting a new initiative seeking to build a national coalition for children deprived of liberty.

🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/3y1itpr

🔊 The 20th Meeting of States parties and Elections 2024 will take place on 23rd May 2024 in New York. Nine Members of the Committee on the Rights of the Child will be elected to replace those whose terms are due to expire on 28th February 2025.

👉 We are happy to announce that the President of DCI-Mauritania (Association Mauritanienne pour la Santé de la Mère et de l’Enfant, AMSME), Zeinebou TALEB MOUSSA, is candidate for CRC membership (first term).

🧒 Her main motivation is that she wants to monitor and implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at local, national and international level. Her vision is that children, as human beings, should be able to enjoy their fundamental rights with dignity, in a just and responsible society.

🔗 read her brochure here and learn more about her story and motivations: https://bit.ly/4dr6YIv

🌍Our April email newsletter is out today!

➡️Available in EN, FR and ES, it covers the biggest updates from our global child rights movement.

🇬🇧https://bit.ly/3W4yuoB
🇫🇷https://bit.ly/3Jqs8IW
🇪🇸https://bit.ly/448DvhZ

❗ On March 15th, Defence for Children International (DCI) organised a compelling side event during the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council. The event, titled “Strengthening International Accountability regarding Violence against Children in Armed Conflicts,” brought together a panel of distinguished experts who shared invaluable insights.

🔊 This event aimed to champion the rights of children affected by conflict, emphasising the urgent need for global commitment to safeguard their well-being and hold perpetrators of grave violations accountable.

🎥 If you missed it, don’t worry! The recording is available here: https://bit.ly/4cQmcGm
Feel free to catch up and stay informed.

🔊Hear the story of 4-year-old Ghazal, who's leg was amputated without anesthesia after Israeli shelling.

➡️This is a stark reminder of the cost of conflict on innocent lives. Let's raise our voices for Ghazal and all children affected by violence.

When humanity is lost, children pay the cost.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BApWBmtaQY8

👉Today marks the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian Child !

At Defence for Children International, we stand firm in our commitment to defend and support all Palestinian children. Together, let's ensure they have access to their rights and opportunities for a brighter future.

📢DCI-Belgium is hiring a communication intern !

🔊 This month marks more than five months since Israeli forces began carrying out genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

👉 At , DCI-Secretariat call on member states to “enforce the prohibition of genocide in accordance with their non-derogable obligations” among other measures.

🔗 Read full Statement: https://bit.ly/3PE3DLB

🌎 On 15th March, we were delighted to welcome to Geneva Bakary, a Youth Ambassador with DCI-Greece.

Bakary participated in a UN event “‘Protecting Children on the Move in Times of Crisis Cannot Wait!” facilitated by the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against children, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid.

🚶Being himself a child on the move, he highlighted that institutions must pay more attention to children by implementing child friendly procedures and accompany and lead children along this complicated journey.

Boys and girls like Bakary need to be considered first and foremost as children rather than only migrants and refugees!

🗣 Thank you Bakary for raising your voice for all children on the move.

🌍✊ Our recent side event, "Strengthening International Accountability regarding Violence against Children in Armed Conflicts," held on 15th March, was a powerful gathering aimed at championing the rights of children affected by conflict. We were privileged to welcome 6 distinguished panellists who brought invaluable insights to the table:

🔹 H.E. Amb. Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve (Belgium), Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict
🔹 Prof. Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict
🔹 Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children
🔹 Ms. Aurélie Lamazière, Senior Programme Manager, Save the Children
🔹 Prof. Ann Skelton, Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
🔹 Mr. Khaled Quzmar, Defence for Children International President

Our aim was clear: to bolster global commitment to safeguarding children in conflict zones and ensuring accountability for those perpetrating grave violations. The discussions were instrumental in shaping a more comprehensive and effective international response to this critical issue.

As Prof. Virginia Gamba pointed out, "The persistent lack of accountability for crimes against children continues to undermine peace processes."

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid emphasised, "It is crucial to ensure children have access to child-sensitive complaint mechanisms, even in wartime, and that they have access to justice and remedies. Holding states accountable is part of the healing process."

Let's stand together in solidarity to protect children and uphold their rights, no matter the circumstances.

🔊Our March email newsletter is out today!

➡️Available in English, French and Spanish, it covers the biggest updates from our global child rights movement.
EN: https://bit.ly/48Lvr7G
FR: https://bit.ly/48VlCE6
ES: https://bit.ly/43lvFBq

🔈 News from DCI-Palestine and Gaza :
The Israeli military attacks against Gaza, violations of human rights and settlers’ violent incursions into cities and villages in the West Bank are ongoing. An emergency plan have been implemented to address the needs of children in Gaza.

Khaled Quzmar president of DCI movement participated to an event in Brussels to bring together voices from the ground, from Israel and Palestine, advocating for peace based on a two-state solution.

📝Read more on our website : https://bit.ly/49GZyOt

🔈Join our event : Strengthening International Accountability regarding Violence against Children in Armed Conflict

🗣️Speakers :
Opening remarks by the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict.
• Prof. Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict
• Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children
• Aurélie Lamazière, Senior Programme Manager, Save the Children
• Prof. Ann Skelton, Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
• Khaled Quzmar, DCI President

🗓️15 March, 10am, Room XXV, Palais des Nations & online

🔗Register: https://bit.ly/42Llhm4

📝 More info: https://bit.ly/4bLOeSQ

🔊 Our February email newsletter is out today!

➡️ Available in EN, FR and ES, it covers the biggest updates from our global child rights movement.

🇬🇧 https://bit.ly/3uCoxUg
🇫🇷 https://bit.ly/4bHaA82
🇪🇸 https://bit.ly/42HcLEF