Join us for this webinar on
The Right to Mental Health for Children in Jerusalem
Al-Quds University’s Community Action Center and Law for Palestine
This event will be held online via Zoom. Register here to attend – click
Background
Within the broader context of Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, East Jerusalem represents a particularly acute manifestation of a coercive environment that has intensified in recent years, especially since October 2023. Increased home demolitions, arrests, settler violence, restrictions on daily life, and the expansion of settlements have compounded existing pressures on Palestinian communities, contributing to heightened levels of instability and violence. Palestinian children in East Jerusalem are subjected to this environment marked by prolonged violence, insecurity, and systemic discrimination. The worsening conditions have profound implications for children’s mental health and well-being, increasing the risk of anxiety, trauma, and other stress-related conditions that affect not only their psychological development but also their access to education, social participation, and other fundamental rights protected under international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The latest report published in June 2026 by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel titled “The essence of childhood has been destroyed: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023” sheds light on the intergenerational nature of mental health impact of occupation, dispossession, and violence and its consequences for Palestinian children.
Against this backdrop, the webinar seeks to centre the right to mental health in East Jerusalem, with a particular focus on Palestinian children. Bringing together human rights experts, mental health professionals, and United Nations mandate holders, the event will examine the intersection between systemic human rights violations and children’s mental well-being.
Speakers:
- Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health
- Dima Ala’Edeen, Therapist, Palestinian Counseling Center
- Mounir Marjieh, Coordinator of the Advocacy Unit, Al-Quds University’s Community Action Center
Moderator:
- Anisha Patel, Governing Council Member, Law for Palestine
Date: Thursday, 16 July 2026
Time: 17:00 Geneva Time / 18:00 Palestine Time
This event will be held online via Zoom. Register here to attend – click
