By Natalia Venegas /GICJ
Though often overlooked, Economic, Social, and Cultural rights are essential for empowering individuals to exercise their other rights, such as political and security rights. To explore this, on 4 October 2024, GICJ, in collaboration with International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD), Association Ma'onah for Human Rights and Immigration, and International Lawyers, organised a side event during the 57th session of the Human Rights Council. An event focused on "The Role of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Post-Conflict Recovery for Palestine and Lebanon". The panel featured insightful contributions from speakers Shahd Sataria, Sarah Tayara, and Luna Layl. The side event was moderated by Julius Schmitz (Human Rights Researcher at GICJ).
The first speaker, Ms Sarah Tayara, works in an international law firm, and her Syrian background has influenced her interest in human rights in conflict zones in the Middle East. She touched upon the profound impact of conflict on civilians in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. Ms Tayara began by highlighting the tragic statistics of civilian casualties, emphasising that behind these numbers are individuals—children, women, teachers, and doctors—whose lives have been irreversibly altered by the violence. Her message was clear: while frameworks for transitional justice and post-conflict recovery are crucial, they cannot succeed unless they account for the real, lived experiences of those most affected by the conflict, especially children.
Ms Tayara underscored the need for a child-focused lens when designing post-conflict recovery strategies, offering three main reasons for this approach. First, she emphasised that children disproportionately bear the brunt of war. Their futures are jeopardised not only by the destruction of schools and homes but also by the psychological trauma they endure. She shared a moving story from her own experience working with Syrian refugees in Turkey, where she met Fatema, a 14-year-old girl whose school was bombed, leaving her paralysed from the waist down. This personal story highlighted the devastating consequences of war on children’s identities and futures, showing that their recovery must be at the forefront of any peacebuilding efforts.
Secondly, Ms Tayara spoke about the centrality of education in post-conflict recovery. She argued that education is not just a basic human right but is also essential for societal stability and economic recovery. Education provides children with the tools they need to become productive members of society, fostering critical thinking and innovation. Without it, post-conflict societies risk perpetuating cycles of violence and poverty. By restoring access to education, communities can help children heal from the trauma of war, offering them the structure and routine needed to rebuild their lives.
Lastly, Ms Tayara shifted the focus from viewing children solely as victims to recognising them as active participants in the recovery process. Citing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, she stressed that children have the right to be heard and should be involved in decisions that shape their future. By giving children a voice, we empower them to advocate for their rights and contribute to rebuilding their communities. Ms Tayara called on the international community to recognise children as agents of change whose resilience and determination are vital to the long-term peace and stability of the Middle East.
In closing, Ms Tayara’s intervention was not one of pessimism but rather of hope. She urged policymakers to design recovery frameworks that prioritise children’s needs and to recognise the transformative potential of empowering the younger generation. By investing in education and creating safe spaces for children to heal, she argued, we can foster a more just and peaceful future in regions like Syria and Lebanon.
The second speaker was Ms Luna Layl, a Palestinian studying International Relations with a deep commitment to the Palestinian cause. She emphasised the significance of examining historical and international examples of post-conflict recovery and peacekeeping to chart a path forward for Palestine. Drawing from the experiences of Kosovo and South Africa, she highlighted the necessity of addressing not only Palestine’s physical reconstruction but also its people’s psychological and social recovery.
Focusing on the case of Kosovo, she discussed the role of the Kosovo Force (KFOR), a NATO-led peacekeeping mission established after the 1999 conflict. KFOR’s involvement extended beyond mere military protection, covering essential aspects such as the resettlement of displaced persons, demining efforts, medical assistance, and public security. Layl noted that KFOR’s role in ensuring secure borders, supporting judicial and civil institutions, and facilitating political and social recovery proved critical for Kosovo’s transition to peace. While recognising the unique circumstances in Kosovo, she argued that similar peacekeeping efforts could be adapted to the Palestinian context. She pointed out that international peacekeeping forces in Palestine would not be a long-term occupation but a transitional mechanism aimed at stabilising the region and supporting the re-establishment of Palestinian sovereignty. These forces would help secure borders and ensure the protection of human rights during the sensitive post-conflict period, thus enabling the Palestinian people to focus on recovery and rebuilding their institutions.
In parallel, Ms Layl drew upon South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as a model for addressing the psychological trauma inflicted upon Palestinians. The TRC, established to address the atrocities committed during apartheid, provided a platform for victims and perpetrators to share their stories, promoting national healing. She stressed the importance of creating a similar mechanism in Palestine, where survivors could recount their experiences of violence and oppression. Such an initiative would promote individual healing, help restore collective dignity, and foster social cohesion. The process of acknowledging and confronting historical wrongs, as seen in South Africa, could pave the way for a more stable and just future for Palestine. Ms Layl emphasised that healing must go hand in hand with justice, particularly when addressing past human rights violations.
Furthermore, she advocated for the establishment of a Palestinian army as part of the country’s long-term security strategy. This army, according to her, would be crucial in protecting Palestinian sovereignty and defending against future aggression. However, she acknowledged the immediate challenges of building such a force in a post-conflict environment. Drawing parallels with Kosovo’s experience, she suggested that international assistance would be essential in the initial stages of military development, particularly in training and equipping Palestinian security forces. This external support would ensure that Palestine could eventually take full responsibility for its defence while avoiding the risks associated with rapid militarisation.
Overall, Ms Layl underscored the interconnectedness of security, psychological recovery, and sovereignty in building a peaceful and prosperous future for Palestine. By drawing lessons from Kosovo and South Africa, she called for a comprehensive approach that combines international peacekeeping, the establishment of Palestinian defence forces, and psychological support for those affected by the ongoing conflict.
Ms Shahd Sataria is a Palestinian human rights advocate and program officer at the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD). She brought forward a passionate and personal account of the current crisis faced by women and families in Gaza and the West Bank. Ms Sataria shared a deeply personal testimony during her intervention, drawing from her own experiences as a victim of the ongoing conflict in Palestine. Born and raised in Jericho, in the West Bank, she reflected on her family's history of displacement, emphasising how this painful reality has shaped her own life. Her mother was born and raised in Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza, and her father also experienced displacement, having been a refugee in Ramallah. Ms Sataria spoke of how, despite the geographical proximity of Gaza to her home, she was 9 the last time she was able to get a permit to visit her family, due to the severe restrictions imposed by Israel.
She fondly recalled her childhood memories of Gaza, where she spent joyful moments with her family. Sataria's memories were filled with love and a sense of community, highlighting the warmth and positivity that characterised her experiences in Gaza.
However, her testimony took a turn when she described how those cherished memories were brutally erased. Her grandmother's house was bombed in November 2023, and her uncle's home, which stood right next to it, was completely destroyed. In this tragedy, her family lost 26 members, including 24 women and children. The emotional weight of this loss was evident as she listed the names of her family members, offering a sobering reminder of the human cost of the conflict.
Ms Sataria shared the harrowing experience of her 15-year-old cousin, Dareen, who died at Shifa Hospital after being unable to receive the necessary medical treatment for kidney dialysis. This tragedy, she noted, was exacerbated by the destruction of hospitals and clinics in Gaza, as well as the siege that has severely limited access to electricity and medical supplies.
Her testimony underscored not just her personal loss but the broader impact of the conflict on Palestinian families, who continue to suffer from displacement, the destruction of homes, and the erasure of entire families from civil registries. Sataria expressed her frustration and disappointment at the international community’s inaction, questioning why the Security Council has failed to protect the Palestinian people and prevent further destruction.
Ms Sataria was able to draw in the audience by sharing her touching story. Her contribution stands in contrast to those of the other speakers due to the personal and emotional element. With her speech, the event was rounded up and the other speeches were complimented by the vivid explanation of what the situation on the ground looks like.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) supports the statements of Ms Tayara, Ms Layl, and Ms Sataria, concluding that the path to lasting peace and justice must prioritise the rebuilding of not only physical infrastructure but also the psychological, social, and economic well-being of the affected communities. The stories shared, particularly those involving children and families, underscored the human cost of ongoing conflict, reminding the international community of its moral and legal obligations to protect civilians, uphold human rights, and support comprehensive recovery frameworks. Drawing lessons from global examples, including Kosovo and South Africa, the speakers called for a multi-dimensional approach, integrating education, peacekeeping, psychological healing, and sovereign security for a future that offers dignity, stability, and hope for the people of Palestine and Lebanon. Only through such a holistic approach can true peace and justice be achieved.
We call on the international community to make all efforts to bring an end to the ongoing violence, including passing a UN Security Council resolution demanding a permanent ceasefire. We also call on states to compel the occupying power, Israel, to comply with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) January 2024 provisional measures to end all genocidal activities in Gaza, which the Court reaffirmed in May 2024, and have been repeatedly defied.
We further call for an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people, which will only be realised when the occupation of their homeland, determined by the ICJ in July 2024 to be illegal, is brought to an end. This suffering has recently been extended to the Lebanese and Syrian people, who have now also become victims of the Occupation's violence. Israel must be brought to account for its violations of international law and international humanitarian law throughout the region.
Watch the Side Event
