Concluding Observation Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para 68(b) Full recommendation Set up comprehensive measures to develop inclusive education and ensure that inclusive education is given priority over the placement of children in specialized institutions and classes. Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1 Iran has made progress in expanding access to education for children with disabilities by significantly increasing the budget for specialized education and establishing physical accessibility requirements for newly built or renovated schools. It has also expanded some support to children with disabilities attending mainstream schools by offering accessible education material, including in braille or audio formats. Article 30 of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Constitution guarantees free education for all through the secondary level.2 Adopted in March 2018, the Comprehensive Law to Protect Disabled Persons3 guarantees fundamental rights and privileges for persons with disabilities in areas such as accessibility, tuition free education, rehabilitation, and employment. However, the legislation does not contain comprehensive measures to develop inclusive education and does not give priority to inclusive education over the placement of children in specialized institutions and classes. The law requires “all ministries, government organizations, and public and revolutionary institutions to design, produce and construct public buildings and facilities, roads and service equipment” that are accessible to persons with disabilities.4 Although the law requests access to children with disabilities to newly and renovated public schools, it does not mention schools already built that are not accessible to children with disabilities.5 The Department of Special Education is responsible for providing education at the pre-primary to the secondary/vocational levels for children with mental, hearing, visual, physical and development disabilities.6 1 CRC.25.S.1; CRC.25.S.2; CRC.28.1.S.1; CRC.28.4.S.1; CRC.25.P.1; CRC.25.P.3; ESCR.13.2.P.2; CRC.25.O.3; ESCR.13.1.O.3 2 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/constitutionenglish-1368.pdf 3 The law to Protect the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: < http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/1054682 > 4 Article 9 of the Comprehensive Law to Protect Disabled Persons 5 http://dotic.ir/news/6053 6 UNESCO < http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002297/229715E.pdf > pg. 34-35. 1

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