Concluding Observations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights E/C.12/IRN/CO/2 para 27 Full recommendation The Committee recommends that the State party address the high drop-out rate of girls in rural areas and of Ahwazi Arab children. The Committee recommends that the State party take measures to address the high illiteracy rates among Ahwazi Arabs and Azeris. It also recommends that the State party take steps to improve the quality of instruction in and physical infrastructure of schools in rural areas, and to increase the number of female teachers in rural areas. Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1 A. The State party should address the high drop-out rate of girls in rural areas and of Ahwazi Arab children. 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”. Article 20 of the Constitution 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 In 2018, a representative of the Ministry of Education reportedly stated that more than 151,046 girls dropped out of school that year.3 Reports identified a number of factors that might explain the reasons behind the high drop-out rate of girls in rural areas. Child marriage has been reportedly one of the most common reasons for children to drop out of school, 4 particularly in rural communities.5 6 One survey showed that about 37.5% of married children were illiterate. 7 Other reasons identified were the lack of schools in rural areas as well as long distances between villages, reportedly forcing girls to drop out, 8 notably due to economic constraints and families being more willing to send boys travelling long distances to reach 1 ESCR.13.1.S.1; ESCR.13.2.S.1; ESCR.13.2.S.2 ESCR.13.1.P.2; ESCR.13.1.P.3; ESCR.13.2.P.3; ESCR.13.2.P.17 ESCR.13.1.O.4; ESCR.13.1.O.7; ESCR.13.2.O.2; ESCR.13.2.O.3; ESCR.13.2.O.5; ESCR.13.2.O.19; ESCR.14.1O.1 2 http://www.iranchamber.com/government/laws/constitution_ch03.php 3 Minority Rights Group, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf 4 Shahrzad News, Millions drop out for over the last four years, (12 January 2010) available at: http://www.shahrzadnewz. net/index.php?page=1&newsitemId=3938&Language=en 5 Minority Rights Group, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf 6 Radio Farda, ‘Half the girls living In border areas drop out of school,’ 9 September 2017. https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iranschool-drop-out-among-girls/28726094.html 7 Report of the U.N. Secretary General, August 2019, https://undocs.org/en/A/74/273 8 Radio Farda, ‘Half the girls living In border areas drop out of school,’ 9 September 2017. https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iranschool-drop-out-among-girls/28726094.html 1

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