Longford teacher expresses deep concern for the welfare of Palestinian children
President of the INTO Carmel Browne will address a major conference today addressing the rights of Palestinian children
Longford teacher and President of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation Carmel Browne will address a major conference today addressing the rights of Palestinian children.
Taking place against the backdrop of the recently agreed ceasefire, the INTO event will reflect the hope and aspirations of educators worldwide that peace holds firm and that the pressing need to support Palestinian children becomes top priority.
President of the INTO, Carmel Browne, will address the 400+ conference delegates, underscoring the deep concern of the teaching community in Ireland for the welfare of Palestinian children.
Her speech will highlight the devastating impact of the conflict on children’s education, wellbeing, and futures, as well as the urgent need for collective action to support them.
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“As teachers and members of INTO, we are bound by our commitment to the welfare and future of children,” President Browne will state. “Schools, meant to be places of safety and learning, have become sites of destruction and despair in Gaza. This is not just a humanitarian tragedy; it is an assault on the very future of Palestine.”
The conference will feature contributions from leading voices on human rights, education, and activism, including:
- Representatives from the General Union of Palestinian Teachers
- Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders
- Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Territories
- Talha AlAli, a psychotherapist and artist from Palestine
- Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award
In addition, attendees will hear powerful accounts from young Palestinians, as well as pre-recorded messages from children in Palestine, providing firsthand insight into the challenges they face.
The conference will also focus on actionable steps. Key discussions will explore measures to uphold the rights of Palestinian children, including INTO’s call for European governments to impose sanctions on Israel and support for the Occupied Territories Bill and BDS campaign in Ireland.
John Boyle, INTO General Secretary, will join Patricia McKeown, Chairperson of Trade Union Friends of Palestine and Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, in outlining the path forward.
“This day cannot be about words alone,” President Browne will challenge. “I urge each of you here to use what you learn today as a catalyst for change and consider how your role—as educators, advocates, or allies—can make a tangible difference.”