About
On 18 January 2025 the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation with the support of Trade Union Friends of Palestine, other Irish Trade Unions and civil society groups, will host a Conference at Liberty Hall, Dublin on the Rights of Palestinian Children.
The aim of this Conference is to allow experts, unions and other stakeholders to examine the violation of Palestinian children’s rights with emphasis on:
- Children’s Health – physical and psychosocial
- Education and access to shelter
This will be an opportunity for participants to hear and learn from a variety of key Irish and International speakers about the ongoing reality and personal experience for Palestinian children under occupation and apartheid, including the ongoing siege of Gaza.
The conference intends to highlight the steps we need to take to ensure the right action is used to enable children in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem access to their fundamental right to safe shelter, health services and education in their home country Palestine, free from occupation and apartheid.
During the day there will be a panel discussion with the speakers focusing on practical proposals for support.
There will be a mix of in-person and online contributions, some speakers are unnamed as a precautionary measure.
There will be an opportunity for those in attendance to submit questions for the panel discussion using your smart phone/device.
- This conference will run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, 18 January 2025.
- Doors will open at 9:45am.
The conference day has three sections –
Session 1 10:00 – 11:30am – Setting the Scene
11:30 – 12:00pm – tea/coffee break and opportunity for networking.
Tea & Coffee available in the lounge area outside of the Theatre Hall.
Session 2 12:00 – 1:30pm – Voices of Young People and panel discussion
1:30 – 2:30pm – Lunch break and opportunity for networking.
Catering by Shaku Maku in Liberty Hall can be purchased if you wish to. On offer will be Middle Eastern food, either rice or salad bowl with a choice of falafel, halloumi, chicken or beef and choice of toppings and sauces. Prices range from €10 to €12.
Session 3 2:30 – 4:00pm – Next steps
Since the Hamas-Israeli conflict escalated to catastrophic war in October 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported more than 14,000 children have been killed and thousands more have been injured. (October 2024).
The children of Palestine are living to survive in a nightmare scenario. Their homes have been destroyed, they have limited access to food, water and medicine, thousands have been injured or have experienced their families being torn apart and relations or neighbours being killed.
Furthermore, they are being denied a right to their education. Over 625,000 children have now entered a second year without school resuming as educational and health institutions have been demolished and the genocide continues denying children their basic human rights.
Safety Note
While the conference is being recorded, this is for the purposes of creating a written report that will be shared with delegates in time, we will not be sharing any part of the recording widely without the express consent of the speaker involved.
Delegates are also asked to be conscious of what they share on social media from the event for the safety of all speakers and participants.
If you do not wish to be photographed on the day please inform the registration desk, they have lanyards available to identify you to the event photographer.
Registration
The conference is now fully booked, however, you can register for the waiting list here.
Culture Night – 17 January
You are also invited to join us for a night of Palestinian Solidarity on Friday, 17 January. The evening will include a film, a book launch and folk music. Admission is free. Details can be found here.