Blog: Our union stands against cruel and callous actions of the Israeli government

Everyone deserves the right to be treated with dignity and fairness, protected from violence and fear. Our children deserve that most of all. These rights are enshrined in the UN convention on the rights of the child, which celebrated its 29th anniversary last week. Yet for too many Palestinian children, those rights have been taken from them by the cruel and callous actions of the Israeli government. This morning I was at 10 Downing Street, standing alongside friends from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, to demand that Theresa May take action to end to the mistreatment of Palestinian children under Israeli military detention, and for the rights of children to be upheld in accordance with international law. Palestinians in the West Bank live under Israeli military law; orders that have been issued by army generals since 1967. Alleged crimes – from traffic offences to building without a permit – are tried in a military court, by a military judge. Conviction rates are unbelievably high – over 99% – including for children. Israel is the only country in the world to systematically prosecute children in military courts. Every year between 500-700 Palestinian children are arrested and prosecuted by the Israeli military. They face ill-treatment from the time of their arrest to their conviction and sentencing. Children as young as 12 are regularly taken from their homes at gunpoint by soldiers in the middle of the night, with little or no explanation to the...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: General secretary's blog News international Palestine Source Type: news