In a lively interactive dialogue, OHCHRAjith Sunghay invited young students to discuss what human rights meant to them. In return, they shared their pain and hope, sending a message to the world demanding an end to the war so they could return home safely.
“We want to show solidarity with them, support them, work with them and see how we can strengthen our relationship,” he said. United Nations News. “We’ve known them for years. We’ve created this bond and connection.”
The lively discussion that followed saw Mr. Sunghay answer a series of questions interspersed with facts on the rights of displaced students under international humanitarian law, the importance of protecting these rights, and the role of the United Nations and its agencies in the Gaza Strip and their obligations to the Palestinian people in light of the dire circumstances they face on a daily basis.
‘Everyone has rights’
At the outset, Mr. Sunghay asked the students how well they understood human rights. The answer echoed throughout the tent.
“Everyone has rights,” said one student.
“My right to go to school or university,” another commented, referring to the right to education.
Another provision refers to the “right to safety,” which means the right to life.
Providing an overview of the basics of human rights, Mr. Sunghay explained that people from different countries came together to draft and agree on Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which forms the basis for all other human rights treaties.
‘Why are you in Gaza?’
Among the questions raised by the group of young people, there was one straightforward question.
“Why are you in Gaza?” a student asked a UN official.
In this regard, Mr. Sunghay explained the two main objectives of his visit to this land.
“First of all, I came to see how we can strengthen the protection of people,” he said. “It is not easy. As the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), we lead the protection team together with other UN organizations such as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). We are all trying to see how we can protect civilians. And that includes all of you.”
The second reason, he said, is human rights.
“This is not easy,” he continued. “But I am also here to review and assess the human rights situation and, more importantly, to meet people and understand the challenges and difficulties they face and the human rights violations that are taking place in Gaza and to engage with civil society, which is the backbone of our response.”
Students in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, participate in an interactive dialogue on human rights under international law.
‘Do we have the same interests?’
Another girl asked if children in Gaza have the same rights as children elsewhere in the world.
“Of course, you have the right to these agreements on paper and then implementation,” the UN official replied. “You are right, there are a lot of conflicts around the world.
Ajith Sunghay of OHCHR talks about human rights under international humanitarian law.
“But we want to achieve equality around the world in terms of respect for rights, and that is never easy. That is why we have to keep pushing. We want to see children in classrooms that are appropriate for them, just like other children in other parts of the world who have decent classrooms.”
There is still a long way to go to achieve such equal respect for human rights, he added.
“But we cannot give up and that is why we continue to fight with civil society, governments and UN agencies. This is a joint effort. Yes, we are all equal and should be treated as such. Yes, there are problems in implementation and we need governments to cooperate with us. That is also very important.”
As the conversation continued, another girl asked about the right to return home.
He said they have the right to live in a safe place, the right to housing, the right to shelter, the right to life.
“We have a long way to go to achieve all rights, and we cannot give up on that,” he continued. “We monitor and see what rights are not being respected and then we inform the international community. We are trying to influence the decision makers so that you have the same rights as everyone else.”
‘We want full rights’: Gaza students send powerful message to the world.
‘We want to have our full rights’
When asked what the students’ message to the world was, they were ready to answer United Nations Newsin Arabic and English.
“Before the war, I lived in Nuseirat camp,” said Lama Abu al-Saeed, a refugee from central Gaza. “Now I am in Istiqlal camp in Deir Al-Balah. I have a bad feeling in this camp. This is not my life. This is not the life of Gaza… Now, I hope this war will end so I can go home.”
Where is freedom for us, children living in fear of occupation?
– Tala Al-Khatib
Tala Al-Khatib, a 13-year-old girl displaced from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, said she wanted to convey her message “to all the bad guys who want to occupy our Gaza city”.
“They have killed thousands of children and made thousands of children orphans,” she said. “They have killed men and made women widows. Where is our right to live in peace and security? Where is the freedom for us children who live in fear of the occupation? We want our full rights.”
Sama Al-Borno, a girl displaced from the Al Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City, expressed hope that the shooting would stop so she could return home.
Dima Abu Saeed, from Al Bureij camp in central Gaza, summed up a common refrain.
“I was displaced many times until I came to our current refugee camp, Al Istiqlal camp,” she said. “I suffered a lot from displacement until I came to this refugee camp, which is a shelter for us and some displaced people. I have great hope that this war will end.”
