Concluding Observations Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para
78(a)
Full recommendation:
Ensure that girls, including married girls, have access to primary and secondary education
without any barriers, including those established by husbands, parents and communities, and
raise the awareness of the public about the importance of education, in particular among
indigenous Arab communities;
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
A. Girls, included married girls, should have access to primary and secondary
education without any barriers, including those established by husbands, parents
and communities
Article 20 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran stipulates that men and women are
equally protected under the law and enjoy all human rights that are in compliance with the
Islamic criteria. Additionally, Article 30 provides that the Government shall make available and
free of charge educational facilities for all up to the close of the secondary stage.2 Education is
compulsory from age 6 to 14.3
Over the past decade in the Islamic Republic of Iran, there has been almost as many girls as boys
enrolling in primary and secondary education.4 On the other hand, the number of girls who leave
school before the end of their studies is greater than boys, particularly in border provinces.5 In
2018, a representative of the Ministry of Education reportedly stated that more than 151,046 girls
dropped out of school that year.6 Reports identified a number of factors that might explain the
reasons behind the high drop-out rate of girls. Child marriage has been reportedly one of the
most common reasons for children to drop out of school, 7 particularly for girls and even more so
in rural communities.8 9 One survey showed that about 37.5% of married children were illiterate
1
CRC.28.1.S.2.1; CRC.28.1.S.2.2; CRC.28.1.S.3.2;
CRC.28.1.P.2.2; CRC.28.1.P.2.3; CRC.28.1.P.6.1; CRC.28.1.P.6.3
CRC.28.1.O.6.1; CRC.28.1.O.6.3; CRC.28.1.O.2.3; CRC.28.1.O.2.6
2
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, http://www.iranchamber.com/government/laws/constitution_ch03.php
3
UNESCO, http://uis.unesco.org/en/country/ir
4
International Monetary Fund, https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2018/03/29/Islamic-Republic-of-Iran-SelectedIssues-45768
5
Beyond the Veil: Discrimination against women in Iran https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1203136/download
6
Ibid.
7
Shahrzad News: http://www.shahrzadnewz. net/index.php?page=1&newsitemId=3938&Language=en
8
Beyond the Veil: Discrimination against women in Iran https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1203136/download
9
Radio Farda https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-school-drop-out-among-girls/28726094.html
1