UNICEF – Safeguarding children’s rights in East Jerusalem


Switzerland’s closing phase will support a comprehensive child rights and child protection programme in East Jerusalem, to keep children and their families safe from conflict-related violence while reducing their vulnerability through specialized services. Therewith, children and their families can benefit from the provision of education and health services in a safe environment. This support is in line with Switzerland’s engagement for the respect of child rights and international law.

Pays/région Thème Période Budget
Territoire palestinien occupé
Droits de la personne
Conflit & fragilité
Governance
Droits de la personne (y compris droits des femmes)
Prévention des conflits
Développement des systèmes légaux et judiciaires
01.05.2024 - 31.12.2027
CHF  2’676’000
Contexte

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.

Objectifs Children in East Jerusalem have improved access to community level child protection prevention and response services which reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience.
Groupes cibles

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).

Effets à moyen terme
  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
Résultats

Principaux résultats attendus:  

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.


Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

  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.


Direction/office fédéral responsable DDC
Partenaire de projet Partenaire contractuel
Organisme des Nations Unies (ONU)
  • Fonds des Nations Unies pour l’enfance

Partenaire de mise en œuvre
UNICEF

Coordination avec d'autres projets et acteurs
  • 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
Budget Phase en cours Budget de la Suisse CHF    2’676’000 Budget suisse déjà attribué CHF    453’000 Budget y compris partenaires de projet CHF    7’429’483 Projet total depuis la première phase Budget de la Suisse CHF   4’368’035 Budget y compris partenaires de projet CHF   7’043’880
Phases du projet Phase 3 01.05.2024 - 31.12.2027   (Phase en cours) Phase 1 01.12.2016 - 31.12.2020   (Completed)