Editor’s note: This was originally posted on February 28, 2025 but is being regularly updated with new endorsements and information.
We’re coming together to demand the Canadian government condemn Israel’s killing, injuring, and detaining of children. We support the call for Canada to impose a full, immediate arms embargo on Israel.
Protect Palestinian Children Now is a follow-up to Defense for Palestinian Children International’s (DCPI) No Way to Treat a Child 2018 campaign. As part of the 2018 campaign, over 20 MPs signed a letter calling for action to protect Palestinian children and hold the Israeli government accountable for its actions in regard to military detention and treatment of Palestinian children.
Table of Contents
- Latest Updates
- Why the Updated Campaign?
- Why Focus on Children?
- What is the goal of the PPCN Campaign?
- Take Action Now
- MP Candidate Endorsements
- Organizational Endorsements
- Additional Information on Israel’s Mistreatment of Children
- Additional Posts on PPCN
Latest Updates
As of April 22, 119 MP candidates have endorsed the campaign, along with 122 organizations across 12 countries.
Share this flyer with your community and ask local candidates if they will support the PPCN campaign!
Are you an MP Candidate who wants to endorse this campaign? Fill out this form. Want to know more about the campaign? Check out the info below.
Why the updated campaign?
As Israel has escalated its “chronic, insidious genocide” over the last 16 months, Palestinian children have not been spared. Rather, they continue to be targeted, injured, tortured, and killed. Israel has a long history of cruelly targeting Palestinian children through:
- its disproportionate killing in all its military incursions,
- its incremental genocide of injuring in bombing and shooting, including the knees and eyes of children and leaving them maimed for life,
- its withholding of essential health care and nutritional needs,
- the intentional terrorizing of children with nightly sonic boom flights over Gaza, and ongoing bombing, and through acts such as night raids and house demolitions
- widespread and systematic ill-treatment of Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system
Why focus on children?
While we advocate for the rights of all Palestinian people, there is ample moral, legal, and ethical weight to an argument that children shouldn’t be injured, imprisoned, or killed. As signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Israel has an obligation to ensure basic due process rights and the absolute prohibition against torture and ill-treatment of children in accordance with international juvenile justice standards. Under Article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, all high signatories, of which Canada is one, are required to take actions to ensure that violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention do not occur under any circumstance. This is embedded in Canadian law in the Geneva Convention Act.
Further, there should be nothing controversial about this call to action.
What is the goal of the PPCN campaign?
The main goal: to obtain endorsements / support from Canadian MPs to
condemn Israel’s killing, injuring, and detaining of Palestinian children, and the trauma that is being inflicted on children through the military occupation and genocide. This includes insisting in a military arms embargo by Canada, and that Canada take immediate and urgent steps to insist Israel comply with its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the recent ICJ Advisory Opinion.
Additionally, PPCN aims to:
- Highlight the Canadian’s governments legal obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention / Geneva Convention Act and Israel’s obligations as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;
- Ensure the protection of the rights of children around the world is a priority of the Canadian government; and
- Amplify the decades long work of Al-Haq, Defense for Children International Palestine and other human rights groups who have investigated, documented, and exposed human rights violations against children.
Take Action Now
For individuals
- Ask your MP Candidates to endorse the PPCN campaign. Use our printable materials to share with your community and candidates.
- Commit to contacting your MP directly and (optionally) get connected with other folks in your area.
- Have you heard from MP? Let us know by emailing supportPPCN@pm.me
For MP Candidates or Senators
If you are an MP candidate or Senator and want to support this campaign, fill out this form or email supportPPCN@pm.me.
For organizations
If you would like to add your name to this campaign, fill out this form.
Initial Organizational Signatories
Ontario Palestinian Rights Association
Defense for Children International Palestine
MP Candidate Endorsements
As of April 16, 2025, a total of 114 MP candidates have endorsed the PPCN campaign. This includes 13 candidates who endorsed as MPs (prior to the election call) and are now running for re-election.
Additionally, three Registered Parties and Party Leaders have endorsed the PPCN campaign: Communist Party of Canada, Rhinoceros Party, and the Centrist Party Canada.
Green Party of Canada
| Candidate Name | Province | Riding | Incumbent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| David MacFarquhar | NB | 13008 Saint John Kennebecasis | No |
| Jessica Wegg | BC | 59021 North Island Powell River | No |
| Lux Burgess | ON | 35019 Cambridge | No |
| Valerie Brooks | ON | 47014 Yorkton Melville | No |
| Jayden Baldonado | AB | 48004 Calgary Centre | No |
| Troy Rife | ON | 35094 ScarboroughGuildwoodRouge Park | No |
| Lilian Barrera | ON | 35022 Davenport | No |
| Chris Markevich | BC | 59009 Courtenay Alberni | No |
| Elizabeth May | BC | 59029 Saanich-Gulf Islands | Yes |
| Mike Morrice | ON | 35048 Kitchener Centre | Yes |
| Kristian Solarik | QC | 24007 Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon | No |
| Jennifer Purdy | ON | 35043 Kanata | No |
| Andy Shadrack | AB | 48030 Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner | No |
| Bertha Fuchsman-Small | QC | 24005 Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation | No |
| Raymond Frizzell | QC | 24034 Lac-Saint-Louis | No |
| Andrew Armstrong | ON | 35023 Don Valley North | No |
| Karen Faye Beazley | NS | 12008 Kings—Hants | No |
| Jodie Capling | BC | 59004 Cariboo—Prince George | No |
| Jacob Pirro | QC | 24026 Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est | No |
| Sulaiman Khan | ON | 35063 Mississauga—Erin Mills | No |
| Ethan Russell | ON | 35050 Kitchener South—Hespeler | No |
New Democratic Party
| Candidate Name | Province | Riding | Incumbent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lesley Thompson | AB | 48018 Edmonton Manning | No |
| Ali Bahman | ON | 35113 Vaughan Woodbridge | No |
| Cassie MacKay | PE | 11004 Malpeque | No |
| Daria Juüdi-Hope | ON | 35046 Kingston and the Islands | No |
| Serge Landry | NB | 13007 Moncton Dieppe | No |
| Pascale Matecki | QC | 24028 Hull Aylmer | No |
| Hugues Boily Maltais | QC | 24033 Lac-Saint-Jean | No |
| Yusuf Ulukanligil | ON | 35120 York Centre | No |
| Ty Boulay | NB | 13001 Acadie—Bathurst | No |
| Alexandre Boulerice | QC | 24065 Rosemont—La-Petite-Patrie | Yes |
| Heather McPherson | AB | 48022 Edmonton Strathcona | Yes |
| Taylor Bachrach | BC | 59031 Skeena–Bulkley Valley | Yes |
| Gord Johns | BC | 59009 Courtenay—Alberni | Yes |
| Peter Julian | BC | 59020 New Westminster–Burnaby–Maillardville | Yes |
| Laurel Collins | BC | 59042 Victoria | Yes |
| Alistair MacGregor | BC | 59010 Cowichan–Malahat–Langford | Yes |
| Lisa Marie Barron | BC | 59019 Nanaimo—Ladysmith | Yes |
| Blake Desjarlais | AB | 48017 Edmonton Griesbach | Yes |
| Keith Morrison | NS | 12005 Dartmouth—Cole Harbour | No |
| Samantha Green | ON | 35109 Toronto Centre | No |
| Jorge Requena Ramos | MB | 46013 Winnipeg South Centre | No |
| Beau Shaw | AB | 48004 Calgary Centre | No |
| Shinade Allder | ON | 35055 London West | No |
| Tommy Bureau | QC | 24059 Québec Centre | No |
| Maya Bozorgzad | ON | 35049 Kitchener—Conestoga | No |
| Nicki Lyons-MacFarlane | NB | 13003 Fredericton—Oromocto | No |
| Rachel Loewen Walker | SK | 47011 Saskatoon West | No |
| Ava Duffy | ON | 35040 Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga | No |
| Janice Folk-Dawson | ON | 35033 Guelph | No |
| Heather Ray | ON | 35086 Peterborough | No |
| Niki Ashton | MB | 46002 Churchill—Keewatinook Aski | Yes |
| Carol Rybinski | PE | 11003 Egmont | No |
| Bonita Zarrillo | BC | 59025 Port Moody—Coquitlam | Yes |
| Phaedra Izdan | BC | 59014 Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies | No |
| Alex Ilijoski | ON | 35118 Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore | No |
| Tania Cameron | ON | 35045 Kenora—Kiiwetinoong | No |
| Hailey Ford | ON | 35075 Oakville East | No |
| Taylor McIntosh | ON | 35059 Middlesex—London | No |
| Jacob Gadzella | SK | 47009 Saskatoon South | No |
| Craig Sauvé | QC | 24035 LaSalle—Émard—Verdun | No |
| Lori Wightman | ON | 35028 Essex | No |
| Josh Floyd | NB | 13006 Miramichi—Grand Lake | No |
| Lo-Anne Chan | ON | 35090 Sarnia— Lambton— Bkejwanong | No |
| Naila Saeed | ON | 35023 Don Valley North | No |
| Don Davies | BC | 59039 Vancouver Kingsway | Yes |
| Kaitte Aurora | AB | 48024 Foothills | No |
| Andrew Hill | NB | 13009 Saint John—St. Croix | No |
Liberal Party of Canada
| Candidate Name | Province | Riding | Incumbent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salma Zahid | ON | 35093 Scarborough Centre–Don Valley East | Yes |
| Nathaniel Erskine-Smith | ON | 35007 Beaches–East York | Yes |
Communist Party of Canada
| Candidate Name | Province | Riding | Incumbent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Rowley | ON | 35007 Beaches—East York | No |
| Stéphane Doucet | QC | 24054 Papineau | No |
| Adrien Welsh | QC | 24037 Laurier–Sainte-Marie | No |
| Manuel Johnson | QC | 24035 LaSalle–Émard–Verdun | No |
| Joseph Markham | ON | 35119 Windsor West | No |
| Drew Garvie | ON | 35112 University–Rosedale | No |
| Rimmy Riarh | ON | 35105 Taiaiako’n–Parkdale–High Park | No |
| Cashton Perry | ON | 35079 Ottawa Centre | No |
| Jeanne McGuire | ON | 35041 Humber River–Black Creek | No |
| Dave McKee | ON | 35022 Davenport | No |
| Michael Speers | ON | 35005 Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte | No |
| Sam Crête | NL | 10006 St. John’s – East | No |
| June Patterson | NB | 13003 Fredericton-Oromocto | No |
| Cam Scott | MB | 46013 Winnipeg South Centre | No |
| Sarah Borbridge | MB | 46011 Winnipeg North | No |
| Kimball Cariou | BC | 59036 Vancouver East | No |
| Salman Zafar | BC | 59034 Surrey Newton | No |
| Ryan Abbott | BC | 59033 Surrey Centre | No |
| Robert Crooks | BC | 59012 Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke | No |
| Christian Bourque | AB | 48022 Edmonton Strathcona | No |
| Corinne Benson | AB | 48021 Edmonton Southeast | No |
| Alex Boykowich | AB | 48017 Edmonton Griesbach | No |
| Naomi Rankin | AB | 48015 Edmonton Centre | No |
| Jonathan Trautman | AB | 48007 Calgary East | No |
Parti Rhinoceros Party
| Candidate Name | Province | Riding | Incumbent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Blais | NL | 10001 Avalon (Party Leader) | No |
| Lysane Picker-Paquin | QC | 24062 Rimouski—La Matapédia | No |
| Stephen Hensley | QC | 24052 Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount | No |
| Sébastien Beaulieu | QC | 24021 Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan | No |
| Adam Smith | ON | 35008 Bowmanville—Oshawa North | No |
| Alexander Tilley | NL | 10001 Avalon (MP Candidate) | No |
| William Cooper | ON | 35080 Ottawa South | No |
Bloc Québécois
| Candidate Name | Province | Riding | Incumbent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Massé | QC | 24076 Vaudreuil | No |
Independents
| Candidate Name | Province | Riding | Incumbent? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer J Rocchi | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Peter Gorman | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Andrea Hollinger | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Wallace Richard Rowat | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Gregory Gillis | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Alexandra Engering | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Jaël Champagne Gareau | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Daniel Gagnon | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Bourgault Alain | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Charles Lemieux | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Jeani Boudreault | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Gerrit Dogger | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Mélodie Anderson | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Sophie Bearden | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Elliot Wand | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| John Dale | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
| Agnieszka Marszalek | ON | 35020 Carleton | No |
Along with endorsing the campaign, some MPs and MP candidates have provided additional statements about their support for Protecting Palestinian Children Now. You can find these statements here.
Additional Endorsing Organizations
As of April 22, 2025, a total of 122 organizations have endorsed this campaign from 12 different countries (Canada, France, Sri Lanka, UK, US, Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, Palestine, Egypt, Argentina, and The Netherlands).
Don’t see your name here but want to endorse the PPCN campaign? Fill out this form.
Looking for more information on Israel’s mistreatment of children?
Since 1967, Israel has operated two separate legal systems in the same territory. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers are subject to the Israeli civilian and criminal legal system whereas Palestinians live under military law. Israel has the dubious distinction of being the only country in the world that systematically prosecutes between 500 and 700 children in military courts each year.
DCIP reported on August 21, 2024, that “Israeli forces are systematically detaining and torturing Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip, including using some as human shields.”
