Open Letter to Minister Penny Wong – children in Gaza

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We are writing to urge you to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the siege on humanitarian aid that is preventing children and their families from accessing food, water and lifesaving medical supplies. Given the intensity of fighting and the degree of devastation on the ground, short pauses will not be adequate to ensure the flow of aid and humanitarian assistance required by affected civilians. Nor will it be adequate for an orderly release and transportation of civilian hostages.

Australia has been a strong advocate for an international rules-based order and for compliance with International Humanitarian Law. Nothing can ever justify the killing or maiming of children. As a group of experienced and trusted child rights’ organisations, we call for the Australian Government to:

  • call for an immediate ceasefire, in line with growing international consensus
  • continue to message that all parties to the conflict must observe their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law
  • call for the release of all hostages
  • call for a safe pathway for the permanent entry for humanitarian aid into Gaza to meet humanitarian need including medical, food and clean water supplies
  • call attention to the special protection owed to children in armed conflict
  • as a signatory to the International Safe Schools Declaration condemn continued attacks and threats against schools, as well as children, teachers and other civilians talking shelter in schools (over 250 education facilities have been struck in Gaza since 7 October)
  • call for recognition of the global Responsibility to Protect all civilians in Palestine and in particular, children.

A humanitarian catastrophe is worsening every day in Gaza – the United Nations has described Gaza as a ‘graveyard for thousands of children’. At the time of writing this letter, over 10,000 civilians, including 4,000 children have been killed in Gaza over the past four weeks, with more than one thousand children missing. Save the Children estimates that the number of children reported killed in Gaza since 7 October is more than the annual number of children killed across the world’s conflict zones since 2019. That means one child is being killed every 10 minutes – something we, and the Australian people, refuse to accept.

For those children who have survived, they are living in an increasingly desperate and deteriorating situation, without access to clean water, food or medicine. Although aid deliveries have resumed, it is a drop in the ocean and nowhere near enough. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees has reported that to date, 151 trucks have entered Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza1. According to the UN, at least 100 trucks a day are needed to supply desperately needed food, water, medicine, and fuel2. There are reports of injured children and pregnant women being operated on without anaesthetic.

The impact on the children of Gaza will endure long after the immediate crisis. The trauma of this war will leave them with lifelong and profound psycho-social and mental health impacts.

All children have the right to a life free from violence and fear. Every child’s life – Palestinian and Israeli – should be valued and treated with humanity.

We are urgently calling on you to demand an immediate ceasefire and a resumption of the required humanitarian aid. Any delay is unacceptable.

Sincerely,

Margaret Sheehan, CEO Childfund Australia
Susanne Legena, CEO Plan International Australia
Zahra Al-Hilaly, CEO Oaktree
Mat Tinkler, CEO Save the Children Australia

Link to the open letter: LR Minister Wong_ceasefire 9.11.23.pdf

 

(Sydney, Australia).  ChildFund’s programs have assisted over 41,000 children in gaining access to educationin some of the most disadvantaged countries. On International Day of the Girl Child, ChildFund is calling on Australians to support their new campaign to increase the number of girls accessing a vital education.

The campaign features the voices of eight girls that assisted by ChildFund and their local partners across Southeast Asia and highlights the definitive gender gap in these communities. The voices not only demonstrate the distinct challenges for young girls, they also reveal a unique sense of hope.

“I am proud to be a girl, even though girls are given less opportunities than men. I am bold enough to take the initiative and accomplish things on my own.” – Maikeo, 13, Laos

“Many people hesitate to speak their mind because they are worried about how other people will react. But if you stay silent, people might never abandon their outdated prejudices. Let’s speak up at the right time, in the right place.” – Hai, 17, Vietnam

“I want to become a businesswoman. Women can do business just like men – they just need to have the opportunity. I want to go on to higher education and study in the city. I am confident to live far away from my family to achieve my dreams. What boys can do, girls also can.” – Nita, 11, Cambodia

“Women can work, we don’t have to be dependent on others.” – Nhi, 11, Vietnam

“It is critical that adults protect  children’s right to leisure, play, and culture for all of us as a collective. I am proud of myself to be able to do many things without fear of any obstacles. Both men and women have equal rights.” Manyta, 15-years-old, Laos

“In the present day and age, we should be able to get rid of inequality in our society.” – Aliya, 16, Laos

“I’ve never seen a female village chief. I want to see a woman become my village chief to show that women have the same capacity as men.” – Rasmei, 10, Cambodia

“When I grow up, I want to be a brave and strong person. I don’t want to ever look down on anyone because everyone is different.” – Chenda, 12, Cambodia

ChildFund also hopes to raise awareness of significant benefits girls and communities gain when education services are improved. ChildFund’s research shows: 59% fewer girls below the age of 17 would become pregnant if all girls had secondary education; every extra year of primary school boosts girls’ eventual wages by up to 20%;  and a child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.

Chief Development Officer at ChildFund Australia Corinne Habel said, “With literacy rates continuing to fall across Southeast Asia and the Pacific it is critical that we continue the work we are doing to make a real impact on the future of girls and all children across our region.”

“The best way to alleviate poverty is via access to education and is a critical first step in strengthening developing communities.”

“The voices of the girls in this new campaign are so inspiring, they show real hope, and we appear to be seeing some change on the horizon. It’s exciting to see attitudes begin shift and girls dreaming big in terms of what could be, but it takes consistency and hard work to create this change, so we are calling on all Australians to help.”

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