Interfaith vigil on the occasion of the International Day for Protection of Children

All are invited to attend an interfaith vigil on the occasion of the International Day for Protection of Children, Monday, June 1, at noon, at the Upper Senate Park, 200 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001.

The vigil will highlight the issue of Palestinian children in Israeli detention and focus on the need to protect all children, both within our US communities and abroad.

Each year hundreds of Palestinian children are arrested by Israeli forces and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. The United Nations and many human rights groups are concerned by reports from Palestinian children that detail cruel punishments, substandard conditions, and a lack of basic fundamental due process rights in these military courts.

The detention of Palestinian minors by Israel raises serious concerns about lack of due process and ill-treatment. These concerns serve as a call to action for those who feel a responsibility to care for the most weak and vulnerable members of society.

We invite all people of conscious who feel a responsibility to care for the most weak and vulnerable members of society to please join us for this special event on June 1 to come together and advocate for ending the ill-treatment of Palestinian children in military detention. (Press will be invited to attend).

For more on the vigil, go to www.nowaytotreatachild.org

For more information and media inquiries, contact Katie Huerter: khuerter@afsc.org

The interfaith vigil’s supporters include:

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Defense for Children International Palestine (DCI-Palestine)
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
Friends Committee on National Legislation
United Methodist General Board of Church and Society
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ
Church of the Brethren, Office of Public Witness
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Pax Christi USA
Jewish Voice for Peace- DC (JVP- DC)
Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP)