Following the passing of the member-submitted motion at College’s 2025 AGM, the Board of Trustees have considered the implications for the College in the light of its charitable mission and the resources at its disposal. The resolution calls on the College to reaffirm its commitment to the protection of children’s rights in Gaza.
The Board of Trustees, on behalf of the College, reaffirms its deep concern at the devastating situation and continued loss of life in the Middle East and urges all parties to prioritise the safety and welfare of children, starting by returning to negotiations to secure a sustainable peace in the region.
A peace agreement must be supported by a funded plan for long-term reconstruction, prioritising shelter for families, rebuilding of infrastructure and recovery of essential services for children. The College continues to stress the need for immediate action, focusing on water and sanitation, comprehensive health care, including basic services such as universal vaccination as well as comprehensive mental health support for families, children and young people, and education.
More broadly, the College and its members are acutely aware that children’s rights are being violated in many areas of the world. We note that during the debate at the AGM, there were concerns that the motion focussed on one specific conflict area, but it did not acknowledge that children in many other regions are also suffering. The College is clear that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child should apply to all children without discrimination and insists that the best interests of the child must remain a top priority in all decisions that affect them. We urge all parties, everywhere, to uphold their commitment to the UNCRC and international humanitarian law. Such laws are designed to protect the most vulnerable and ensure that fundamental rights are upheld, even in times of crisis.