CRC/C/ISR/CO/2-4
Aims of education
65.
The Committee reiterates its concern that peace education is extremely limited in the
State party given the state of conflict and the extensive militarization of the educational
system (CRC/C/OPAC/ISR/CO/1, para 26). Notwithstanding the information provided by
the delegation of the State party, the Committee is also concerned at the removal of
significant information on Palestinian history, heritage, flag and cities from school
textbooks distributed in 2011 to all private and public schools in East Jerusalem.
66.
The Committee reiterates its recommendation (CRC/C/OPAC/ISR/CO/1, para.
27) of systematic inclusion of peace education both in the Israeli and Palestinian
school system, and again encourages joint initiatives, bringing together both Israeli
and Palestinian children, to be undertaken to promote peace education. The
Committee also draws the attention to its general comment No. 1 (2001) on the aims of
education and reminds the State party of its duty to ensure that Palestinian children
are educated with respect to their cultural identity, language and values and therefore
urges the State party to cancel the prohibitions of using Palestinian textbooks and
curricula.
Early childhood development
67.
The Committee expresses concern that despite the fact that the Compulsory
Education Law applies to all children from the age of three, there continue to be a
disproportionally low number of Arab children enrolled in early childhood education. The
Committee is also concerned that the State party has still not adopted the necessary legal
framework for the licensing and supervision of early childhood institutions.
68.
The Committee recommends that the State party adopt a comprehensive
national policy for early childhood education and development and ensure that all
children have access to high quality early childhood care and education opportunities
without discrimination. The Committee also recommends that the State party adopt a
legal regulatory framework applicable to early childhood care and education and
ensure that all institutions undergo compulsory registration and are supervised based
on specified criteria.
I.
Other special protection measures (arts. 22, 30, 38, 39, 40, 37 (b)-(d), 3236 of the Convention)
Asylum seeking and refugee children and children of migrant workers
69.
The Committee welcomes the creation of a Youth Village in Nitzana in 2011 for
unaccompanied children. The Committee also notes as positive the attention that the
situation of children without legal status has recently received from the State Comptroller
and the Knesset Child Rights Committee. The Committee is however concerned about the
increased marginalization of children of asylum seekers and migrant workers as well as
unaccompanied children in the State party, who are often left without any support from
welfare authorities. The Committee is further concerned that these children are often denied
access to day-care centres, education, and health services and therefore stay alone while
their parents work outside of their home or are exposed to various forms of exploitation.
The Committee also expresses concern about:
(a)
The Anti-Infiltration Law enacted in January 2012 which allows for the
prolonged detention of children, including child victims of exploitation, torture and
trafficking who migrate illegally to the State party;
(b)
The rise in arrests since August 2011 of children of migrant workers,
including children born in the State party, in extremely stressful conditions such as those
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