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