Election Update No.16

Date: 22 January 2006

Violations of Electoral Campaigns Regulations

Employing Children for Campaigning Activities

PCHR campaign monitors have observed that children have been employed to carry out campaigning activities for candidates and party lists.  This has been ongoing since the start of campaigning on 3 January 2006.  The employers, who represent parties and independents alike, use the children to hang posters and banners and to distribute election material, all day and under difficult conditions, in exchange for a meager wages.

These acts are a violation of the Palestinian Child Law, in which Article 14 states, “It is against the law to employ children under the age of 15.”

PCHR calls upon all political parties and candidates to stop this violation of the law, and to put an end to employing children in campaigning activities.

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For more information please call: +972 (0)- 8 - 2824776 – 2825893.* 

*Office Hours are between 0800 – 1600 hours (0500 GMT – 1300 GMT) Sun – Thurs.

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip tel/fax: +972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893

email: pchr@pchrgaza.org      website: www.pchrgaza.org