Defence for Children International/Palestine Section [DCI/PS], established in 1992, is affiliated with the Geneva-based Defence for Children International, a non-governmental organization established in 1979, with consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, UNICEF, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe. Though affiliated with an international network, DCI/PS is an independent, Palestinian non-governmental organization, which develops its programs and acts according to Palestinian children`s needs and Palestinian priorities.

Mission

DCI/PS is dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip - as articulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as in other international human rights instruments - and to facilitating the creation of an environment which is aware of and respects children`s rights.

DCI/PS Institutional Objectives

* To advocate respect for Palestinian children`s rights, and mobilize and equip the local and international community to act in defence of those rights;

* To serve as a legal reference through providing protection and free legal support to Palestinian children;

* To assist in developing legislation which protects children in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;

* To act as a reliable resource center for information concerned with Palestinian children issues and rights;

* To play an effective role in monitoring the status of Palestinian children`s rights and systematically document violations in a way that enables effective interventions, when necessary;

* To work with Palestinian children to empower them and raise awareness of their rights at all levels, through child-to-child methodology, as well as to facilitate their effective participation in defending their rights and their active role in Palestinian society;

* To create a strong network of grassroots, local, and international organizations acting in the best interest of Palestinian children;

* To relay to the local and international community, effectively and efficiently, the conditions in which Palestinian children live and communicate the importance of recognizing and defending children`s rights.