l Khalili delivers a speech on behalf of the president of the State of Palestine Mr. Mahmoud Abbas in the launching ceremony of the Palestinian Childhood Ambassadors Network.

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     The Minister of Women’s Affairs Mona Al-Khalili, speaking on behalf of the President Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, during thelaunching ceremony of the Palestinian Childhood Ambassadors Network. This Ceremony was organized by the Arab Center for Research and Strategic Studies, under the patronage of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, with the presence of a selected group of high officials, from academic, community, and legal figures.

Sisters and brothers, 

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our esteemed guests,

Our sons and daughters, ambassadors of childhood in Palestine

It’s my pleasure to stand today among you conveying greetings from his excellency Mr. Mahmoud Abbas the president of the State of Palestine, and his best wishes regarding this national gathering.

In my speech I extend a special greeting to our distinguished quests his excellency Mr. Mousa Abu Zeid, the Head of Palestinian National Administration school and the member of the centered committee of Fateh party, Dr. Leila Ghannam the Governor of Ramallah and Al Bireh Municipality and the member of centered committee in Fateh Party.

and I would like to begin my speech by extending a special welcome to our esteemed guests:

His Excellency Mr. Mousa Abu Zaid, President of the Palestinian National School of Administration and member of the Central Committee of Fateh Movement, and Dr. Leila Ghannam, Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate and member of the Central Committee of Fateh Movement, and Dr. Walaa Batat, President of the Arab International Center for Research and Strategic Studies, Founder of the Palestine Childhood Observatory, and Founder of Palestine Childhood Ambassadors Network,

and Dr. Mohamed Shalalah, former Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arab International Center for Research and Strategic Studies,

I also welcome the organizers of this initiative, and all the institutions and individuals who contributed and lead to its success, especially our children and youth, the ambassadors of Palestine for childhood, whom we celebrate, honor today and place our trust and hope for the future prospects.

Dear esteemed audience,

The launch of the Palestine Childhood Ambassadors Network is not just an occasion to celebrate children, but a national step that reaffirms our commitment to the rights of Palestinian children, to their right to have a voice, to have a role, and to live their childhood in safety, dignity, and freedom.

The Palestinian child is an essential part of the present and future of Palestine. The child is not merely a recipient of protection and care, but a human being with rights, abilities, dreams, and the right to participate and express himself.

Therefore, investing in our children is an investment in Palestine itself, and in its ability to build a more just and cohesive society, and a state based on respect for human rights and freedoms.

She added: “Sons and daughters, We meet today in exceptional and harsh circumstances for the children of Palestine, especially in Gaza Strip, who have paid the highest price as a result of the aggression, and have lost their homes, families, safety, schools and spaces of childhood, in addition to, the effects of the occupation that children encounter and face in the West Bank, and the accompanying violence, restrictions, displacement and violations that affect their daily lives and their future. Therefore, our responsibility is not limited to addressing the effects and impacts of the pain, but extends to building a sustainable national system for the protection of childhood, promoting children’s rights, and providing an environment that enables them to learn, create, participate and build their future.”

We believe that protecting the Palestinian child begins with safeguarding them from violence, exploitation, and neglect, providing education, health, and social protection, developing their skills and abilities, and enhancing their participation, ultimately empowering them to be active citizens in their community and homeland.

She continued: “This is where the importance of this network comes from, which we want to be a comprehensive national space that opens the way for our children and youth to be ambassadors for the Palestinian children’s cause, for a just peace based on rights and dignity, and for the Palestinian narrative that puts the human being at the center of its concern.”

and I say to you, my sons and daughters, ambassadors of Palestinian childhood:

You do not just carry the name of Palestine, but you carry the message of Palestine.

Be the voice of your peers, and express their dreams, rights, and aspirations.

Learn, research, create, and build bridges with the children of the world.

I want you to tell the world that the Palestinian child wants to live like all the children around the world, he wants to go to his school, to play, to dream, to grow up in a safe home, and to see his homeland free and independent.

I want you to carry a message that says true peace begins with protecting children, respecting their rights, and ending the causes of fear, violence, and occupation.

Al Khalili said that the responsibility of protecting childhood is not the responsibility of one institution, but rather a shared national responsibility that requires the integration of the efforts of the state, official and civil institutions, the school and the family, the private sector, the media, and all components of society, stressing that Palestine, with its leadership and national institutions, will remain committed to protecting its children, defending their rights, and providing them with all the necessary elements for a decent life.

From here, we welcome every initiative that contributes to enhancing this integration, and we hope that the Palestine Childhood Ambassadors Network will serve as a model for cooperation and joint national work, expanding to reach all children of Palestine, in the homeland and the diaspora, in cities, villages, and camps, in Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank.

I convey my thanks and appreciation to everyone who initiated and contributed to the launch of this network, to the Arab International Center for Research and Strategic Studies, the Palestinian National School of Administration, Palestine Childhood Observatory, and all the partners, institutions, and individuals who dedicated their efforts for the children of Palestine.

In conclusion,

I assure you that Palestine, with its leadership and national institutions, will remain committed to protecting its children, defending their rights, and providing everything possible for a dignified life for them.

and as we launch today the Network of Palestine Childhood Ambassadors, we are also launching a message of hope:

That the children of Palestine are not just numbers in reports, nor images in news bulletins, they are rights owners, the legitimate heirs, holders of the future, and they are the Palestine of tomorrow.

Let their voices be heard,

let their dreams be a trust upon our shoulders,

and let their protection be our collective responsibility.

My sons and daughters, ambassadors of Palestine for childhood,

Be ambassadors of peace, freedom, dignity, and justice.

and carry Palestine in your hearts, in your knowledge, in your understanding, and in your dreams.

Together we protect the childhood of Palestine, together we build the future of Palestine, and together we remain loyal to our people's right to freedom and independence and the embodying of our independent Palestinian state with its capital, Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Childhood Ambassadors Network, according to its organizers, aims to unify national efforts, competencies, and expertise in the field of childhood, promote a culture of children's rights, protect children's rights and dignity, and highlight Palestinian childhood issues and rights at both the national and international levels.