UNICEF, DCI: PALESTINIAN CHILD PRISONERS IN ISRAELI LOCK-UPS

Ramallah, 3 Jumadil Awwal 1436/22 February 2015 (MINA) – A report by the UNICEF documented proofs of ongoing and systematic mistreatment of Palestinian child prisoners in the Israeli occupation lock-ups.

UNICEF said in a report Saturday all the proofs collected by the UN-run group corroborate that Palestinian child prisoners have been subjected to mistreatment by the Israeli occupation wardens, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Defense for Children International, meanwhile, said data collected last year found out that over ¾ of Palestinian children incarcerated in the Israeli occupation jails have been subjected to physical torture both in the detention and interrogation phases.

50% of Palestinian minor detainees have also been exposed to strip searches, the report added.

In 93 percent of cases, children were deprived of legal counsel, and rarely informed of their rights before the detention phase, it said.

The organization voiced deep concern over the long periods of solitary lock-downs endured by Palestinian minor captives pending interrogation, a policy that amounts to torture under international law.

Despite the ongoing dialogue between the UNICEF and the Israeli occupation authorities over the past two years, the latter have failed to introduce practical changes and did not display any serious intents to halt abuse of Palestinian child prisoners.

A report issued by the UNICEF in 2013, entitled “Children in the Israeli military detention” and documenting evidence of mistreatment, culminated in 38 recommendations to end Israel’s policies of psycho-physical torture against Palestinian minor detainees.(T/P008/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)