Israel: Extended Detention of Minors The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/ CHILD CONCERN Case ISR 070297.CC The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation concerning the detainment of Palestinian minors in Israel. Brief description of the situation : Defense for Children International (DCI-Israel,) a member of the OMCT and LAW, have expressed their grave concern over the extended detention of seven Palestinian minors, detained in the Megiddo military detention center in Israel without charge or trial. Moussa Jibril Al Sous, 17, of el Rihiyye village, arrested 6 September 1996, Hossam Mohammed Abu Wardel, 17, of Al Fawwar Refugee camp, arrested 21 February 1996, Mahmoud Hamzeh Amin Zeit, 17, of Ya'bed, arrested 24 Feb. 1996, Tha'er Ahmed Amar, 17, of Dura, arrested 26 Dec. 1996, Abdelqaddoum Ibrahim Abdallah Abed, 17, of Beittunia, arrested 28 Dec. 1996, Mohammed Issa Abdel Azziz, 17, of al Fawwar, arrested 3 March 1996 Mohammed Hamida al Wahsh, 17, al Fa'amereh, 18 August 1996 The holding of minors in administrative detention contravenes the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Israel ratified in 1991. Article 37b states that "no child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. It goes on to state in article 40(2)2 that "every child alleged as or accused of having infringed the penal law has to have the matter determined without delay by a competent, independent and impartial authority in a fair hearing." Prolonged administrative detention constitutes a violation of human rights and reflects a disregard for the rule of law and due process. The International Secretariat is gravely concerned by the arbitrary detainment of Palestinian minors in Israel and the risks to the physical and psychological integrity that this engenders. Action requested: Please contact the concerned Israel authorities urging them to: i Take appropriate measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of children detained in Israeli prisons in particular ensuring their separation from adult prisoners. ii Order their immediate and unconditional release, if they are detained without valid judicial charges;or, should such charges exist, bring them immediately to trial before a competent and impartial tribunal, guaranteeing their full procedural rights: iii bring an immediate halt to the practice of administrative detention, particularly with regards to children; iii. guarantee at all times respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms according to national law and international standards. Addresses : Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Office of the Prime Minister, 3 Kaplan Street, Jerusalem 91919, State of Israel. Telex : 25279 mpres il. Fax : + 972 369 17 915 Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah al-Din Street, Jerusalem 91029, State of Israel. Fax : + 972 2 62 85 438 Mr. Yitzhak Mordachai, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense 3 Kline Street, Jerusalem, State of Israel. Fax : 03 691 69 40 or 03 697 72 85. Minister of Police, Ministry of Police, PO Box 18182, 3 Sheikh Jarrah, Kiryat Hamemshala, Jerusalem 91181, State of Israel. Fax : + 972 2 5826 769 Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code number of this appeal in your reply Geneva 07 February Ben Schonveld Projects Manager OMCT-SOS-Torture Fax 4122 733 1051 Ph 4122 733 3140 OMCT is: l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture The World Organisation Against Torture http://www.omct.org/