The Palestinian Association of Local Authorities (APLA) held a consultative workshop with the Marginalized Groups Inclusion Working Group in Local Government Units (LGUs), under the title “Policy Paper and Practical Guiding Framework to Enhance the Inclusion of Children’s Rights and Needs in Palestinian Local Planning,” with the participation of the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government. The workshop aimed to discuss the draft policy paper and the practical guiding framework for strengthening the inclusion of children’s rights and needs in the plans and programs of LGUs.
The workshop included a detailed presentation of the draft policy paper and the practical guiding framework, which were developed in cooperation with the United Nations agency for children (UNICEF). The aim is to enhance the integration of children’s rights and needs into Palestinian local planning processes and to develop practical mechanisms that contribute to engaging children and protecting their rights within local authority plans and programs.
Mr. Abdal Momen Afanah, Director of the Technical and Support Unit at APLA, emphasized that “This workshop comes within the framework of APLA’s ongoing efforts to enhance the responsiveness of LGUs to the concept of inclusion in their services, and to support the capacities of their staff through a peer-learning policy”.
For her part, Eng. Ohood Enaia, Director of the Programs and Policies Unit, stated that “The importance of this workshop does not lie only in presenting a theoretical framework on children’s rights, but also in providing a space for LGUs to offer practical inputs and recommendations that ensure these policies are adapted to become effectively applicable on the ground in our towns and cities”.
The workshop witnessed an open and extensive discussion, during which members of the Marginalized Groups Inclusion Working Group in LGUs provided their comments and recommendations on the draft paper, contributing to its enrichment and development in line with the local context and the needs of different local authorities.
Participants also stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships with child-focused institutions, as they are the most experienced entities in managing participatory processes with children and ensuring their effective inclusion. They also recommended that local authorities internally review the paper with relevant committees and specialists, and submit their written feedback and recommendations to APLA to be incorporated into the final version of the paper.
This workshop was organized as part of the APLA’s efforts to promote inclusion in the work of Palestinian local government units and to develop their policies and programs, under the Local Government Reform Program (LGRP-III), implemented by GIZ.