1. What does DCIP do?

Our teams work to support Palestinian child victims facing pressing needs by offering direct legal and supporting services, monitoring and documenting violations against them, advocating on their behalf at the national and international levels, and educating Palestinian children about their rights. 

2. What is DCIP's definition of a “child”?

We define a child as anyone under the age of 18. We have documented human rights violations of infants and offer direct services to Palestinian children aged 5-17.

3. Who does DCIP serve?

We serve Palestinian children living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which includes the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. At present, we do not serve Palestinians citizens of Israel.

4. How does DCIP verify information?

Our Monitoring and Documentation Unit, consisting trained field researchers, independently verifies all documented cases. In a typical case, this unit collects sworn affidavits from the victim and witnesses, evidentiary photographs, supporting documents such as medical reports, and field workers’ first hand observations. Our Legal teams (Legal Unit and Child Justice Unit) also support verification processes: conducting visits to prisons and detention centers, and representing child detainees in Palestinian and Israeli courts.

5. Who relies on DCIP's reporting?

DCIP is the primary reporting agency under UN Security Council Resolution 1612 in the OPT on ill treatment and torture of children in Israeli military detention. The US State Department, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Save the Children, UNICEF and other UN agencies often rely on our data as well. News media and journalists around the world regularly cite DCIP's reporting and data, with hundreds of media citations a year. Activists advocating for Palestinian human rights through the No Way to Treat a Child campaign also rely on DCIP's data, reporting, and child testimonies.

6. Who funds DCIP?

We primarily rely on grants and donations from individuals. Some past and current funders include: UNRWA, Save the Children International, World Vision International, OXFAM-Italy, and Commission of the European Communities, among others. For a complete list, please see our annual reports.

7. Who are our affiliates?

We are part of the global movement Defense for Children International, founded in 1979 and based in Geneva. Its national sections and affiliated members span 50 countries. Additionally, we are a founding member of the Palestinian Network for Children’s Rights (PNCR), composed of 60 community-based organizations, which implements advocacy and protection strategies to promote children’s rights in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Other Networks:  Middle East and North African, Child Rights Network (MANARA), Working Group on UN Security Council Resolution 1612 (1612 WG), Child Protection Network (CPN), Palestinian Human Rights Council (PHROC), Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations (PNGO), National Committee for Juvenile Justice, Occupied Palestine and Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI), UN Working Group on Child Protection (CPWG).

8. How can I get involved?

Join the movement to demand increased protections for Palestinian children now! Donate or sign up for our email list here. 

9. How will my donation be used?

Your donation will help support our legal services and programmatic work. This includes providing legal aid to Palestinian children in both the Israeli military court system and Palestinian Authority courts; documenting and exposing human rights abuses against children throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip; and holding Israeli and Palestinian authorities accountable to universal human rights principles by advocating at the international and national levels to advance access to justice and increase protections for children.