Today Monday 29 November 2010, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, with support from UNICEF, opened a series of awareness symposia on child rights and protection in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) Al Mezan's office in the town of Rafah.
 The symposia target a group of Imams in coordination with the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.
This is the fifth series of symposia, out of six, to be delivered under a project supported by UNICEF during the past three months.
Legal advocate Mirvat An-Nahhal, coordinator of the ‘Child Rights Awareness for Religious Leaders in the OPT Project’ at Al Mezan, opened the symposia and welcomed the participants.
She thanked the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs for its cooperation.
  Mrs.
An-Nahhal stressed the importance of knowledge of the legal guarantees for child rights under Palestinian and international law, the impact of negative discrimination on a child’s future, child rights for health and mechanisms of protection by family, schools and society.
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An-Nahhal presented the purpose of the symposia: To introduce the participants to the basic concepts of child rights and to the protection mechanisms under Palestinian law; including with relation to HIV/AIDS related stigma.
On a later stage, the project will address the potentials for an effective role by religious leaders in furthering respect and protection of children in Gaza.
The symposia consist of nine hours to be delivered over three days.
A team of trainers and experts in human rights and mental and general health from Palestinian civil society organizations will deliver the symposia.
  Ends