1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,960 You're watching UNICEF Television. 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:11,660 Across Gaza and the West Bank, Palestinian children have been rising up, coming together 3 00:00:11,660 --> 00:00:14,960 to demand an end to violence. 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:20,160 Months of campaigning culminate on April 5th, Palestinian Child's Day, when young delegates 5 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:24,480 will present their cause to the authorities and ask for protection. 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:31,280 Today, I'm here to support child rights and to prevent everyone from violating them. 7 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:37,240 The message I want to send to people is that problems are not solved by violence. 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:42,440 UNICEF and partners developed these children-led campaigns to involve youngsters in rewriting 9 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,760 the social policy which directly impacts their rights. 10 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:50,600 Actually, Palestinian children are, you know, surrounded by increased violence and UNICEF 11 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,680 is trying to help children to speak about the violence that they are experiencing and 12 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,440 to enable them, you know, to create a change in the society. 13 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:03,280 While aggression in Palestinian society can partially be blamed on the ongoing conflict, 14 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:08,320 verbal and physical violence has also traditionally been accepted as a means to educate and discipline 15 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:10,200 children. 16 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,880 Campaign workshops have focused on raising awareness amongst both youth and adults to 17 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:19,440 help them recognize the different types of violence children are subject to and how to 18 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:20,440 lessen it. 19 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:26,720 We chose physical violence, particularly in schools, as the theme of our campaign because 20 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,640 school is the most important place for children after the home, but they suffer a lot of violence 21 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,000 there. 22 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:38,200 While UNICEF hopes this action will inspire improvements in child rights at a policy level, 23 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:43,240 the very act of empowering children to act as agents of change will better equip them 24 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:49,520 to protect themselves and to demand a childhood free from abuse and violence. 25 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,840 This is Rachel Bonham-Carter reporting for UNICEF Television. 26 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,280 Unite for Children.