Concluding Observation Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para 12 Full recommendation: The Committee urges the State party to urgently repeal its laws and policies that are discriminatory against girls and religious and ethnic minorities and ensure that all children, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity or religious beliefs, enjoy equal rights and freedoms as guaranteed under the Convention. In particular, the Committee urges the State party to ensure that the State party’s legislation does not leave the interpretation and implementation of its legislation to the wide discretion of the judiciary without providing them with the necessary training and interpretative guidelines. Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1 A. The Committee urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to repeal its laws and policies that are discriminatory against girls and religious and ethnic minorities and ensure that all children, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity or religious beliefs, enjoy equal rights and freedoms as guaranteed under the Convention. Although the rights of children are ostensibly protected under the Iranian legal framework, discriminations against children based on their gender, ethnic and religious identities is present in multiple aspects of daily life in Iran, including in the field of education. Article 19 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran contains guarantee of equality for all the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, regardless of ethnic group or tribe, and states that “colour, race, language, and the like, do not bestow any privilege”.2 Additionally, Article 30 provides that the Government shall make available and free of charge educational facilities for all up to the secondary stage.3 Article 20 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran stipulates that “all citizens of the country, both men and women, equally enjoy the protection of the law and enjoy all human, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, in conformity with Islamic criteria”.4 Yet, by including the caveat of “Islamic standards”, Article 20 of the Constitution restricts the protection of the law and enjoyment of all human, economic social and 1 ESCR.13.1.S.1; ESCR.13.1.S.2; ESCR.13.1.S.3; CRC.28.1.S.1; CRC.28.1.S.2; ESCR.13.1.P.2; ESCR.13.1.P.6; ESCR.13.1.O.1; ESCR.13.2.O.4; ESCR.13.2.O.3 2 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English Translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/constitutionenglish-1368.pdf 3 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English Translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/constitutionenglish-1368.pdf 4 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/constitutionenglish-1368.pdf 1

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