The International Childhood Conference at An-Najah University Recommends Uniting Efforts for Early Childhood Services
An-Najah National University has recently concluded the activities of the International Conference on Early Childhood Education, "Children, Hope and Peace; a Local and Global Perspective.”
The conference resulted in the following conclusions and recommendations:
The call for action from Nablus
We,
The governmental officials of the state of Palestine,
Representatives of Palestinian Academia,
Representatives of civil society organizations in Palestine,
Representatives of the Arab ECD network
Representatives of the Early Childhood Peace consortium
Representatives of the International Network on Peace Building for young children
Representatives from Early Years, the organization for young children
Representatives of Yale University
Representative from Queens University in Belfast
Convened at An-Najah University in Nablus, the city of inclusiveness and diversity, discussed early childhood issues, aspirations and hopes for a better future.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the convention on the rights of Children and while it transformed the lives of millions of children around the world, we are aware that many children were left behind because of poverty, violence, displacement, and military occupation.
We highly appreciate the efforts made by governments, The United Nations’ agencies, international organizations, civil society in the world, the region, and the state of Palestine to advance the CRC agenda in the last 30 years of its existence. However, we realize that the work is not finished and much more is needed to advance and create a better future for the children of the world, and Palestine.
We acknowledge the dire situation in the world, and more specifically in Palestine which compromise the protection of children and stand as barriers and threats to fulfilling the rights of children globally and in the region.
In this context, and in line with the goals of the sustainable development agenda, the convention on the right of the child goals No. 4, 16 and all other relevant resolutions, we commit to stand together and reaffirm our political support to child rights that include legislations, policies, budgets and programs of action that leave no child behind.
Believing in the transformative power of early childhood strategies and services, we commit to prioritize the investment in early childhood education and offer young children all needed care and support for a bright future. Anchored in the nurturing framework, we call for the following actions:
- Unite our strengths and advocate for universal access to early childhood development. Most importantly, we commit to emphasize the urgent need for increased investment in programs for families and young children living in fragile contexts.
- Continue with active pursuit of knowledge and address the gaps in science with a focus on multidisciplinary research to reinforce the evidence that will inform global policies, national policies, strategies and programs for ECD.
- Work in partnership and harmony to attain the highest quality ECD programs and interventions
- To monitor and report progress on situation of children including tracking progress on their health, education and protection.
- As they are agents of change, we commit to partner with children and their families in the planning execution and evaluation of ECD programs at the local and global levels
We are raising the voices of the families and their children from the beautiful mountains of Nablus so they echo throughout the world, and relaunching the global call of action.
We believe that children are our future, we call for action, NOW.
