The Macroeconomics and Child Rights Project, supported by the Swedish Government (Sida), Radda Barnen, and UNICEF, seeks to insert children into the Palestinian macroeconomics policy dialogue. Although the rights of children are rarely associated with trade policies, revenue collection schemes, or even budget allocations, these policies directly impact child health and development. By looking at the current political, social, and economic environment, assessing the needs of children, and examining both the governmental and non-governmental commitment to children, we believe we can outline a course of action where macroeconomic policies promote healthy child development and help ensure the rights of all Palestinian children.

The first stage of this project will outline the PNA budget process, identifying key budget decision-makers and the avenues of advocacy within budget formulation and enactment. By showing legislators, parents, and civil organizations where and how they can debate for a more child focused budget, we will help strengthen the public debate concerning child rights and needs. This first phase will also take a ‘snapshot’ of the overall PNA spending priorities and then specifically analyze the spending of the education and welfare sectors of the PNA budget. By examining the policy-allocation-outcome dynamic of these sectors, we hope to show what commitments are being met and which need more attention. Identifying the successes and challenges facing these sectors will help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of planning, allocations, disbursements, and the delivery of services to children.

In close collaboration with non-governmental and governmental agencies and ministries, the project aims to develop and include child-perspective issues in all sectors of policy making.

The Child Assessment Guidelines Project aims to evaluate the impact of sectoral policies on the well-being of children. The objective is to develop sector specific guidelines and monitoring indices that will identify how particular policies impact child welfare. By highlighting concerns, such as the high level pesticide use or fluctuating employment patterns, the program hopes to be able to help programs insure children benefit from the programs.

The initial plan of action is to gather information on the current status of the agricultural, infrastructure, environmental, and economic sectors. From this information we will then establish working committees to develop specific guidelines for each sector.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Guide

The project involves the development of a Palestinian Child Rights Guide that focuses on specific activities aimed to teach children about their rights and responsibilities in Palestine.

Because existing governmental and non-governmental agencies lack a systematic and comprehensive political, legal, budgetary, and administrative approach/structure to implement and secure children’s rights, it is essential to create a Palestinian Children’s Ombudsman Office.

Serving as the voice for all Palestinian children, the Children’s Ombudsman Office will be an independent, legitimate, flexible, and efficient body with official and technical powers to ensure families, communities, and institutions meet and uphold children’s rights.

A large selection of books and cassettes are available to help people in their understanding of Children’s issues.