plan are yet to be made public. While the number of child laborers is reportedly rising in the Islamic Republic of Iran,30 only about 9,000 have been reportedly identified by the Government and given shelter in 2018.31 Child labour has been cited as one of the main reasons for children to drop-out of school.32 In July 2020 the Ministry of Education reportedly launched a plan to return to school children who dropped out.33 There is as of now no readily available information that might indicate that the plan has been successful among child laborers. In its General Comment on Article 6 of the Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, the Committee stipulated “States parties must adopt effective measures to ensure that the prohibition of child labour will be fully respected.”34 However, child labour legislation has been reportedly ineffective, inadequately monitored and enforced. Such gaps hinder accountability for employers exploiting child labour. The lack of legal safeguards for child laborers added to the lack of services and avenues of redress expose children to economic exploitation and contribute to maintain the unchecked employment of children to work, in contravention of Iranian law and/or international standards. C. The State party should undertake awareness-raising campaigns with a view to eradicating child labour In its 2019 National Report to the Universal Periodic Review, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that “on the basis of the 6th Development Plan Act, the Government is obliged to […] organize and reduce street children and child laborers. »35 Yet the number of child laborers remains high in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 36 37 The role of the Iranian National Body for the Convention of the Rights of the Child is “to set up plans and programs to promote the child rights and respect to their character” and has the responsibility to monitor and assess the implementation of child rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.38 The body is headed by the Minister of Justice, who appoints most of its members and officers and includes three NGO representatives among its 23 members.39 During the country’s 2016 CRC review, The National Body listed its main achievements, notably the 30 Radio Farda, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/thousands-of-children-forced-to-work-beg-in-the-streets-in-iran/30142546.html Radio Farda, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-child-labor-homeless-abuse/29193727.html 32 3 million students dropped out in Iran, interview with Ali Bagheri, Public Education Deputy at Ministry of Education ;Jahan news published on 11 January 2010 http://jahannews.com/vdca0ona.49nao15kk4.html 33 Tehran Times, https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/450506/Plan-for-returning-drop-outs-to-school-started 34 General Comment No.18 on Article 6 of the Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, E/C.12/GC/186 http://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=4slQ6QSmlBEDzFEovLCuW1a0Szab0oXTdImnsJZZVQfUK xXVisd7Dae%2FCu%2B13J25Nha7l9NlwYZ%2FTmK57O%2FSr7TB2hbCAidyVu5x7XcqjNXn44LZ52C%2BIkX8AGQr VyIc 35 National Report, UPR 2019, Islamic Republic of Iran, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/WG.6/34/IRN/1 36 Radio Farda, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/thousands-of-children-forced-to-work-beg-in-the-streets-in-iran/30142546.html 37 Center for Human Rights in Iran, https://iranhumanrights.org/2019/07/fact-sheet-children-in-iran-are-unprotected-fromabuse-and-severe-rights-violations/ 38 Article 2 National Body for the Convention on the Rights of the Child Bylaws 39 Justice for Iran, submission to the CRC, 2015, https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CRC/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CRC_NGO_IRN_19746_E.pdf 31 4