Children in Demonstrations

To see a four year old child putting on a ski mask and waving his sling shot, is highly distressing. When under aged children set fire to tires, and try to provoke the soldiers under the cover of smoke, throwing stones with their sling shots, it may all look like a game. But on the opposite side of the demonstration, there are armored soldiers, with live ammunition, and big guns. And whilst the children are free and within their rights to demonstrate, the fact is that the most common cause for child detention in the occupied Palestinian territory is stone throwing, according to the Palestinian Authority. That makes children in demonstrations a cause of concern.

Children have a right to demonstrate. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, they are free to express their opinions. Even in cases where demonstrations are less than peaceful, children participating cannot be considered to be held responsible for any wrong doing. For example the UNHCR determined that children participating in Intifada demonstrations cannot be considered child soldiers.

However children need the permission of their parents, who are believed to know what is in the best interest of their child. In all honesty, it is difficult to believe that any parent willingly would send their children to a situation with the possibility of turning violent. Nobody wants to expose their children to violence, to weapons –nobody would want them to be in harm’s way.

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF has commented on occasions when children have been used in demonstrations. Whilst the statement was raised in regard to an incident taking place in Nepal, it is nonetheless just as valid for any other conflict. Accordingly “While children do have the right to freedom of expression under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, their parents and guardians also have the right and responsibility to ensure that children are exercising their rights in an age-appropriate manner.’’

“Organizers of any demonstration or public gathering have a responsibility to ensure that any children participating do have the consent of their parents. When children in Kafr Quaddum or Al Ma’sara are participating in demonstrations to stop road blocks and allow access to Palestinian land, this can be a peaceful demonstration. Two young boys, aged for and seven can convey a very powerful message by holding up a sign saying “You arrested our fathers so we lead the demonstration today.”

Within the mandate of EAPPI, we only support non-violent demonstrations aiming to stop the occupation. Most of the demonstrations I have attended have been peaceful protests with Palestinian flags, or prayer beads as the most prominent sign of resistance. Yet sometimes demonstrations inevitably become violent, with sound bombs, teargas, and skunk gas.

To risk children being detained due to their activities during demonstrations, whether they are associated with activities, accused of activities or not, is too high. In 2011 the UK Parliament debated about the 190 children detained in Israeli prisons at the time.  According to the Time, throwing a stone can result in a sentence of 20 years in prison under the Israeli military law which applies to the occupied Palestinian territory.

Mahmoud a seventeen year old boy says: “‘I went from having a normal life at home to handcuffs, deprivation of sleep, shouting, threats, rounds of interrogation and serious accusations. In these circumstances, life becomes dark, filled with fear and pessimism – tough days that words cannot describe.”  

Thus after establishing the children in demonstrations may not be a strategic or responsible move, the next concern is the children who are in detention, and finally their rehabilitation. The best course of action is to exclude children from demonstrations, as a preventive measure against child detention.

We cannot stop children from being children, but we can make sure they have noone to throw stones on, and that they have nothing to be accused of. We can minimize the risks.