On the UN’s Universal Children’s Day – 20 November – teachers and lecturers urge the UK government to lobby for the release of child prisoners and an end to the mistreatment of children detained under military law

As teachers and lecturers, we feel strongly that today, on the UN’s Universal Children’s Day, we must call on our government to work with increased determination to achieve improved welfare for the children living in Palestine under occupation and in Gaza. On this day, we are reminded that we have a duty to advocate for children’s rights as set out in the declaration of the rights of the child, which was adopted in 1959, and the convention on the rights of the child, adopted in 1989.

We believe it is shameful that children live in fear, in particular the fear of being detained and imprisoned under military law.

It is a blight on the international community that we are not preventing the arrest of children following the invasion of their homes in the middle of the night by heavily armed soldiers. We are horrified that following their arrest children have their hands bound with plastic ties, are blindfolded and transported away from their families in military vehicles.

We cannot comprehend how any government can preside over such a system. Then to hear that children are also held in solitary confinement makes us realise that this is a system that contravenes the rights of a child in so many ways.

So on this day, and every day, we are demanding that our government lobbies in the strongest possible way for the release of child prisoners and an end to the mistreatment of children detained under military law.

Mary Bousted Joint general secretary, National Education Union

Kevin Courtney Joint general secretary, NEU

Kiri Tunks National Union of Teachers president, NEU

Vicky Knight President, University and College Union

Alison Thornton President, Educational Institute of Scotland

Amanda Martin Vice-president, NEU

Douglas Chalmers President-elect, UCU

Bill Ramsay Vice-president, EIS

Louise Regan NUT ex-president, NEU

Niamh Sweeney Association of Teachers and Lecturers immediate past president, NEU

Nicola Fisher Ex-president, EIS

Philipa Harvey NUT past president, NEU

Heather McKenzie Executive member, NEU

Jess Edwards Executive member, NEU

Joseph Wyglendacz Executive member, NEU

Dave Harvey International chair, NEU executive

Beth Davies Executive member, Wales NEU

Dr Bernard Regan Trustee, NEU

Freddy Vanson Assistant secretary, Southwark NEU

Thomas Gallahue Joint divisional secretary, Hounslow NEU

Ellie Sharp Young teachers officer, Croydon NEU

Safiyya Patel

Amy Johnson President, east London NEU

Carole Regan Past president, NUT

Shaheena Khan Barking and Dagenham Association

Nina Franklin Past president, NUT

Muniza Khan Member, NEU

Betty Hunter

Jamila Haynes

Tony Buttifint Divisional secretary, Islington NEU

Geoff Holmes International solidarity officer, Medway NEU

Barry Ackerman

Una Doyle International solidarity officer, Camden NEU

Georgia Townsend International solidarity officer, Essex NEU

Susan Piper Tameside NEU

Julia Simpkins Divisional secretary, Bolton NEU

Robert Behan Sixth form NEU representative, Newham

Graham Easterlow Head of social education, Breckenbrough School

Valentina Furlong International solidarity officer, Enfield NEU

Mairead Whelan Divisional secretary, Vale of Glamorgan NEU

Niparun Nessa

Jordan Sladden

Hannah Estrada Cocklin International solidarity officer, Windsor and Maidenhead NEU

Christine Blower International secretary, NEU

Helena Akentijevic Assistant secretary, Camden NEU

Louise Atkinson

Matthew Jenkins

Kauser Jan

Alpha Kane International solidarity officer, Brent NEU

Shazia Shah

Emma Davis Representative and committee member, Barking and Dagenham NEU

Alex Kenny Executive member, NEU

Gawain Little Executive member, NEU

Jerry Glazier Executive member, NEU

Roger King Executive member, NEU

Phil Clarke Executive member, NEU

Susan Malpass

Sahbi Benzid

Alice Fonda

Sylvia Erskine

Karen Whyte

Hilary Connor

Dawn Taylor Executive member, NEU

Nigel Yeo Division secretary, Oldham NEU

William Brown Bristol NEU

Emily Davies Sandwell NEU

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