How We Work › Speaking Tours › Miranda Cleland DCIP April 2023
Defense for Children International Palestine
Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP) www.dci-palestine.org is the only Palestinian human rights organisation working exclusively for children’s Rights in Palestine. They are an independent, local Palestinian child rights organization dedicated to defending and promoting the rights of children living in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Since 1991, they have investigated, documented, and exposed grave human
rights violations against children; provided legal services to children in urgent need; held Israeli and Palestinian authorities accountable to universal human rights principles; and advocated at the international and national levels to advance access to justice and protection for children.
Miranda Cleland is the Advocacy Officer at Defense for Children International – Palestine.
Miranda has a bachelor’s with honours from American University’s School of International Service, where she studied international affairs and Arabic language + literature. She lives in Washington, D.C.
April 2023: Miranda visits Ireland
During her visit, Ms Cleland brought a harsh and difficult message on the treatment that Palestinian children endure, not just in the Israeli courts and during detention and arrest, but also due to the rise of home demolitions, the loss of rights to education and the worrying increase in shooting of minors by the Israeli military and illegal Settlers. Israel is the only country in the world that routinely arrests and detains children in a military system. Ms Cleland shared DCI’s most recent work, including the campaign to reintroduce Bill number MN-04, by US Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s. This legislation is designed to prevent the Israeli Government using their US tax dollars donations for the abuse, military detention, or ill treatment of Palestinian children. This work is ongoing.
In Dublin, Ms Cleland spoke at a round table discussion co-hosted by the IPSC and with a shared platform where Saleh Hammouri, from Adameer also spoke. This meeting was well attended by trade unions, faith groups and pro-Palestinian activists. There were a number of cross-party meetings including members of Fine Gael, Sinn Fein and the Labour Party Leader, Ivan Batchik. Frances Black and Patrick Costelloe were also briefed on the current situation for young people in the West Bank. Ms Cleland also spoke at an IPSC public meeting in Wexford.
Miranda Cleland, DCIP.
The visit was a timely one as it coincides with Sadaka’s postcard campaign 2023, which DCI Palestine have assisted in bringing to fruition. We have worked closely on previous campaigns (link to School Run). DCI Palestine were among six organisations that Israel designated a ‘terrorist organisation’ in 2021. This move was denounced universally by Ireland, the EU and by an international outcry. No evidence has been produced and Israel claims to have ‘secret files’ which they will not reveal. The designation is seen as a move to silence civil organisations. Despite having their offices raided, equipment confiscated, and door welded shut, DCI Palestine continue to investigate and provide services to children in urgent need.