Children's Rights In Iran: A Deep Dive Into Challenges And Progress

The landscape of children's rights in Iran is a complex tapestry woven with international commitments, domestic legal frameworks, and the stark realities faced by its youngest citizens. While the Islamic Republic of Iran has ratified key international conventions aimed at safeguarding children, the practical implementation and adherence to these standards often present significant hurdles. This article delves into the multifaceted challenges and the glimmers of progress in protecting the rights of children in Iran, drawing on critical data and expert insights.

Understanding the full scope of children's rights in Iran requires an examination of legal definitions, societal norms, and the geopolitical context. From issues concerning the age of criminal responsibility and the tragic reality of juvenile executions to the specific vulnerabilities of minority communities and the broader impact of socio-economic factors, the lives of children in Iran are often mired in difficulty. This exploration aims to shed light on these critical issues, emphasizing the ongoing efforts by both national and international bodies to advocate for meaningful change.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Landscape of Children's Rights in Iran

Realizing children's rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran is an ongoing struggle, as children's lives are mired in difficulty. The challenges are pervasive, touching upon nearly every aspect of a child's existence, from basic survival to protection from harm. Each month, more than 100 children die as a result of famine, street fights, and illness in Iran, painting a stark picture of the dire circumstances many face. These statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive interventions and a robust framework to uphold the fundamental rights of every child. The concept of "children's rights in Iran" is not merely an academic discussion but a matter of life and death for countless young individuals.

The difficulties extend beyond immediate threats to life. Authorities sometimes violate their fundamental rights, highlighting systemic issues that undermine the very principles of child protection. This environment necessitates a deeper understanding of the legal, social, and political factors at play, which often create a gap between international standards and local realities. The commitment to safeguarding children's rights in Iran, while often stated, faces immense pressure from various internal and external forces.

International Commitments vs. Domestic Realities

Iran, as a United Nations member state, has made moral and legal commitments to conform to international human rights standards. This includes ratifying six core international human rights instruments, such as the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which specifically address the right to education and other fundamental entitlements. These ratifications signify a formal acknowledgment of global norms concerning children's well-being and protection.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Iran's Reservations

A pivotal moment in Iran's engagement with international children's rights frameworks was the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1991 and its subsequent ratification in 1994. This move was widely seen as a positive step, aligning Iran with a global consensus on child protection. However, upon ratification, Iran made a significant reservation: "If the text of the Convention is or becomes incompatible with the domestic laws and Islamic standards at any time or in any case, the Government of the Islamic Republic shall not abide by it." Furthermore, Iran reserved "the right not to apply any provisions or articles" that "may be contrary to the Islamic Shariah."

This reservation has profound implications for the practical application of children's rights in Iran, as it allows domestic law and religious interpretations to supersede international obligations. While Askar Jalalian, who presented Iran's fourth report on children's rights during the 48th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, reaffirmed that the protection and promotion of children’s rights remain a core principle of Iran’s legal system, the existence of this reservation creates a legal loophole that can be, and often is, exploited to justify practices that fall short of international standards. This tension between international commitments and domestic legal interpretations is a central theme in understanding the challenges faced by children in the country.

International documents for preserving children’s rights, such as the 1959 Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, serve as benchmarks. However, Iran's specific reservations highlight a fundamental conflict that continues to impede full compliance and protection for children.

The Grim Reality: Executions and Age of Criminal Responsibility

Perhaps one of the most egregious violations of children's rights in Iran is the continued practice of executing individuals who committed crimes while under the age of 18. In 2016, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child strongly urged Iran to end the execution of children and persons who committed a crime while under the age of 18. This plea underscores a grave concern, as international law unequivocally defines a child as anyone under 18 years of age, prohibiting capital punishment for juvenile offenders.

However, Iran's domestic legal system operates with multiple definitions of a "child" when it comes to criminal responsibility. The age of criminal responsibility is set at 9 years for girls and 15 years for boys, a stark contrast to the international standard. This discrepancy means that children as young as nine can be held criminally responsible and, in some cases, face severe penalties, including execution. Data indicates that juvenile executions have occurred, with 93 to 7 juvenile offenders known to be on death row, highlighting a deeply troubling aspect of children's rights in Iran. This legal framework, which varies the age from 9 to 18 depending on the specific law, directly contradicts Iran's international obligations and puts countless young lives at risk.

Beyond executions, the broader issue of protection for children caught in the justice system is critical. As the number of children reportedly killed by Iranian security forces in relation to ongoing protests rises to at least 23, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child issued a statement condemning the killings, noting that hundreds more have been injured, detained and tortured during the government crackdown. Iran’s security forces repressing widespread protests have unlawfully killed, tortured, sexually assaulted, and disappeared children as part of a pattern of serious violations. These acts represent a severe breach of fundamental human rights and underscore the urgent need for accountability and adherence to international norms regarding children's protection.

Vulnerable Populations: Ethnic and Religious Minorities

The challenges to children's rights in Iran are not uniformly distributed. The children of Iran’s ethnic and religious minority communities suffer an appalling range of rights abuses in all walks of life—most of which go largely unaddressed by the international community. These communities, typically hailing from Iran’s less developed provinces, struggle with systemic discrimination that exacerbates their vulnerability.

On November 20, 2024, World Children's Day, it was highlighted that the day is meaningless without fighting to protect the most vulnerable, specifically mentioning the children of Iran’s ethnic and religious minority communities. These children face unique and compounded difficulties, often experiencing limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities due to their minority status. Their struggles are often overlooked or underreported, making advocacy and intervention even more challenging. The intersection of poverty, discrimination, and lack of state protection creates a particularly harsh environment for these children, making their rights especially precarious.

Health, Education, and Protection: A Snapshot from the Children's Rights Index

The Children's Rights Index provides a quantitative measure of how well countries are upholding children's rights. In 2024, Iran ranked 91st globally on the Children’s Rights Index, with an overall score of 0.703. This ranking, while not the lowest, indicates significant room for improvement in various areas concerning children's well-being.

The index evaluates five key areas: health, life, education, protection, and environment. Each of these areas presents unique challenges and opportunities for children in Iran. For instance, the tragic statistic that each month, more than 100 children die as a result of famine, street fights, and illness, speaks volumes about the deficiencies in the health and life domains. While specific data on environmental impact on children's rights in Iran isn't detailed in the provided text, it's an acknowledged component of the index, suggesting further areas for concern.

In terms of education, despite Iran's commitment to the ICESCR and CRC which address the right to education, disparities persist, especially for children in less developed provinces and those from minority backgrounds. Protection, as evidenced by the issues of juvenile executions and the repression of child protestors, remains a critical and deeply concerning area. Addressing these multifaceted challenges requires a holistic approach that tackles root causes, strengthens social safety nets, and ensures accountability for rights violations.

Legislative Efforts and Their Limitations

In recent years, there have been some legislative attempts to improve the framework for children's rights in Iran. Iran’s recently approved law to protect children and adolescents is a small positive step forward. This move marked a historic day for children and children’s rights activists in Iran, signaling a recognition of the need for updated legal protections. Such legislation can provide a basis for addressing issues like child labor, abuse, and neglect.

For example, a child in Iran cannot legally work under the age of 15, except in occupations considered safe (such as domestic work). While this provision aims to protect children from hazardous labor, the exception for "safe" occupations like domestic work can still leave children vulnerable to exploitation, especially given the lack of robust oversight and enforcement in informal sectors. The challenge lies not just in passing laws but in their comprehensive and effective implementation, ensuring that loopholes are closed and protections are genuinely afforded to all children.

However, despite these positive steps, the new law falls short of the fundamental reforms needed to meaningfully protect children’s rights. Critics argue that it does not adequately address core issues such as the age of criminal responsibility, the death penalty for juvenile offenders, or the systemic discrimination faced by minority children. Without addressing these foundational concerns, any new legislation, while welcome, will remain insufficient to fully align Iran with international children's rights standards and truly safeguard its most vulnerable population.

The Role of International Bodies and Activism

International organizations and human rights activists play a crucial role in advocating for children's rights in Iran, often serving as a voice for the voiceless and pressing for accountability. Their efforts highlight violations and push for greater adherence to international norms.

Shirin Ebadi's Appeal to UNICEF

A significant moment of international advocacy occurred on June 11, 2025, when Nobel Peace Prize laureate and renowned human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi wrote a powerful appeal to UNICEF (the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund). Her appeal condemned the organization’s persistent silence in the face of severe, ongoing violations of children’s rights in Iran. Ebadi's intervention underscored the frustration felt by many activists regarding the perceived inaction or limited impact of international bodies on the ground. She argued that UNICEF headquarters should act where the local Iran office has failed, emphasizing the urgent need for a more robust and vocal stance against abuses.

UNICEF itself aims to support the children of Iran through various actions, including successfully strengthening community engagement in the prevention of child abuse (e.g., tackling cultural norms and stigma around violence in homes, schools, and other settings) and increasing children’s awareness concerning child abuse, particularly online abuse and exploitation (and equipping them to help to protect themselves). While these programs are vital for long-term change, Ebadi's appeal highlights the need for more immediate and forceful condemnation of state-sponsored violations.

The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI)

Independent organizations like The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) are indispensable in monitoring and reporting on the state of human rights, including children's rights, in the country. CHRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in Iran. Their work involves documenting abuses, advocating for policy changes, and raising international awareness about the challenges faced by children and other vulnerable groups. Such organizations provide crucial, often unfiltered, information that complements official reports and helps paint a more complete picture of the situation on the ground.

The collective efforts of these bodies, from UN committees issuing condemnations to individual Nobel laureates and independent NGOs, are vital in keeping the spotlight on children's rights in Iran. They serve as a constant reminder of the international community's responsibility to uphold human rights universally, even in the face of complex political realities.

Moving Forward: A Call for Greater Accountability and Action

The journey towards fully realizing children's rights in Iran is long and arduous. While there have been some legislative advancements and formal commitments to international conventions, the deep-seated issues of juvenile executions, the ambiguous age of criminal responsibility, the plight of minority children, and the broader systemic violations continue to cast a long shadow. The tragic reality of children dying from preventable causes and being subjected to violence and detention underscores the urgency of the situation.

For genuine progress to occur, Iran must move beyond reservations and fully align its domestic laws and practices with international human rights standards, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This requires not only legislative reform but also a fundamental shift in enforcement and accountability mechanisms. The international community, including bodies like UNICEF and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, must maintain consistent pressure, ensuring that their advocacy is not met with silence or inaction. Supporting independent human rights organizations like CHRI, which provide critical on-the-ground reporting and advocacy, is also paramount.

Ultimately, the protection of children's rights in Iran is a shared global responsibility. It demands continued vigilance, unwavering advocacy, and a commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or circumstances, is afforded the fundamental rights and protections they deserve. By understanding the complexities and supporting the efforts of those working tirelessly for change, we can contribute to a future where the children of Iran are truly safe, healthy, and empowered to thrive.

What are your thoughts on the challenges faced by children in Iran, and what steps do you believe are most crucial for ensuring their rights are protected? Share your perspectives in the comments below, and consider sharing this article to raise awareness about this critical issue.

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