males, adultery, or rape, all of which can carry capital sentences.17 Under the new Penal Code, a
specific sub-branch of the general criminal court, and not the special juvenile court, is designated
to have jurisdiction over serious crimes or sexual crimes charged to juveniles.18
While there are positive aspects to the new juvenile courts and juvenile branch of the criminal
courts, these developments fail to bring Iran’s juvenile justice system in line with the
Convention.19 Neither court system is constructed around the best interest of the child, nor are
there any legal provisions requiring judges to take the best interest of the child into account
during criminal proceedings. Iranian law does not prescribe any limit on pretrial detention of
defendants under 18. Nor does Iranian law present any procedural safeguards to protect the
privacy of child defendants.20
B. Conduct programmes and awareness-raising activities to promote the meaningful
and effective participation of all children within the family, the community and the
school, including within student council bodies, with particular attention to girls and
to children in vulnerable situations
There are no reports of awareness raising campaigns being conducted to promote children’s
participation in family relations, in the community and in school.
Recommendation Status:
This recommendation has been NOT been implemented.21
17
Code of Criminal Procedure (2014), arts. 306 and 285, available at:
http://www.rooznamehrasmi.ir/Files/Laws/Ghanoon%2093.02.03.pdf
18
Ibid. art.315, available at: http://www.rooznamehrasmi.ir/Files/Laws/Ghanoon%2093.02.03.pdf
19
Impact Iran submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, review of the 3rd and 4th periodic reports of the Islamic
Republic of Iran: https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/TreatyBodyExternal/countries.aspx?CountryCode=IRN&Lang=EN
20
Ibid.
21
For more please see: Impact Iran submission to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, review of the 3rd and 4th periodic
reports of the Islamic Republic of Iran:
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/TreatyBodyExternal/countries.aspx?CountryCode=IRN&Lang=EN