Concluding Observation Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para
18(a)
Full recommendation:
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the budget needs of children and allocate adequate
budgetary resources, in accordance with article 4 of the Convention, for the implementation of
children’s rights, and in particular, increase the budget allocated to social sectors and address
disparities on the basis of indicators related to children’s rights.
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
A. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the budget needs of children.
To date, there is no indication that Iranian agencies have conducted a systematic and
comprehensive assessment of the budget needs of children. This inaction can be, reportedly,
explained by the lack of a centralized body responsible for planning for children’s needs.
Currently, responsibility for various aspects of children's rights and welfare is scattered across
different government institutions. For example, institutions such as the National Welfare
Organization, the Imam Khomeini’s Relief Committee, the Judiciary, the Police, the Ministry of
Islamic Guidance, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the
Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Health, and the Islamic Republic Broadcasting, each are
involved in the subject matter, in accordance with the Child and Adolescent Protection Law.2
Additionally, the structure of the national budget in Iran illustrates a deficit regarding children and
their rights because their rights are subsumed under the umbrella of the "family".3 Most of the
programs defined in the budget are called “support programs”, with a focus on livelihoods that
have been considered in the form of “families”.4
The Child and Adolescent Protection Law, approved in May 2020, provides opportunity for State
institutions to analyse children’s needs, such as freedom from abuse, economic exploitation and
neglect.5 Under Article 4 of that law, the Judiciary Office for the Protection of Children and
Adolescents may prepare cases or periodic reports, conduct statistical and information studies, and
1
CRC.6.2.S.2; CRC.8.2.S.1; CRC.9.1.S.2; CRC.19.2.S.2
CRC. 6.2.P.3; CRC.19.2.P.3
CRC.19.2.O.1; CRC.19.2.O.2
2
Child and Adolescent Protection Law, 12 May 2020: https://shenasname.ir/laws/6788
3
Details of the budgets for the last 5 years have been examined to this end. After the final approval, the country's budget is published
in the form of a booklet "Budget Law" every year. For example, this report reviewed the proposed budget for new year (1400) and
analyzed the share of budgets that allocated to women and family, which children is included.
https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/report/show/1636239
4
https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/report/show/1636239
5
Child and Adolescent Protection Law, 12 May 2020: https://shenasname.ir/laws/6788
1