"Relatives of young detainees held in "Israeli" prisons gathered in front of UN House Wednesday to protest "Israel's" imprisonment of children in Khiam and deliver a message for Secretary-General Kofi Annan."

“At this moment, our children are still being held in solitary confinement inside Khiam,” said Souad Chaayeb, the mother of 17-year-old Khanjar who has been imprisoned for the past 18 months.
Prisoners in Khiam are held without charge and are systematically tortured.

Citing articles from the Convention on the Rights of the Child and reading a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, Ms. Chaayeb accused "Israel" of violating the fundamental rights of children. “"Israel" as the occupying power should ensure that these children are charged and tried in accordance with international standards or released immediately.”

Among the group of protesters were several women who had made the two-hour trip from the southern village of Arnoun. All had either sons or husbands in Khiam.

They held pictures of 14-year-old Ali Taoube who has been held along with his father for 18 months. Only six families remain in Arnoun ­ a village technically outside the occupation zone but frequently infiltrated by "Israel" or its proxy militia, the South Lebanon Army.

“A year and a half ago, they came and took our children and husbands,” said Samira Katbay. “They haven’t released them since then.”

Zeinab Assaf, 75, was being supported by the other women. “They took the only son I had left,” she cried out. “My husband is dead and my other children left the country a long time ago. I am all alone now. He’s all I have. I am so old now and I need him.”

Her son, 25-year-old Assem, was among the men jailed from Arnoun.

The women are allowed to visit their sons and husbands every three months, but they have to stand more than a meter apart and are not allowed to touch each other.

“All we can say to each other is, how are you? how are you?,” said Mrs. Assem. “What else can we say with the "Israelis" or the SLA militia all around us, listening to every word and keeping us apart?”

“This is not the first demonstration in front of UN house,” said Nabil Abu Dargham, UN information officer. “There have been many before held either here or at UN headquarters at Bir Hassan. The letter you have here addressed to the UN Secretary-General will be sent to him immediately.”

There are 135 prisoners being held at the Khiam detention center, among them are 12 children, all under 18. Another 45 prisoners are being held in "Israeli" jails".

"Mira Alamedine, school teacher and activist said: "we came here simply to say that detainees are simply not someone else's brother or son, they are everybody's children. We came to support the protest and detainees should be freed unconditionally. Children have rights."

"The Convention of the Rights of the Child clearly states that no child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. UNICEF regional director, Ibrahimma Fall told Future Television:" the UN must call on governments or parties involved to honor their commitments to fulfill the rights of the child especially when dealing with governments who have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. "Israel" is a signatory state to the international document. The international human rights watchdog, Amnesty International has issued this pamphlet entitled Juvenile Justice every child's basic human right. It highlights Ali's plight - a schoolboy detained without charge or trial and tortured. Amnesty has issued many reports that explain the torture detainees undergo at the hands of the "Israelis". Ali is among 15 other Lebanese children and over 150 adults held by "Israel" in clear breach of human rights. An "Israeli" rights group leader Eitan Felner said that "Israel" lacks quote a culture of human rights. His group investigates human rights in territories occupied by "Israel". Felner said torture still exists as a systematic device".