the Rights of the Child stipulates that States should “abolish any provisions allowing or
supporting the round-up or arbitrary removal of children and their families from the streets or
public places”.11
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 increase protection of […] street children (Article 78)”.12 In June 2020, the Iranian
Guardian Council passed legislation aiming at protecting children from abuse, exploitation, or
being out of school,13 14 situations in which most of street children are. However, the law does
not specifically address abuses against children in street situations. In its General Comment
No.21 on children in street situations, the Committee on the Rights of the Child stipulates that
States should “introduce or review an act on child protection or children based on a child rights
approach and that specifically addresses children in street situations.” 15 There is no protection
specifically tailored to children in street situation under Iranian law, notably from discrimination,
abuse or harassment by the public and by law enforcement officials.
In June 2018, a welfare official reportedly told to the Iranian Students News Agency that “73
percent of child vendors on the streets” face various forms of physical and verbal abuse.16 There
have been reports of abuses perpetrated by the public and law enforcement officials against
children in street situations in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 17
The 2020 legislation aforementioned requires social workers from the State Welfare
Organisation to promptly investigate the children in situation of “extreme danger” from abuse,
exploitation, or being out of school,18 19 situations in which most of street children are.
Additionally, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran established a “Special
Investigation Branches and Criminal Courts in the Judiciary for the examination of child abuse
crimes” and launched an “SMS hotline 30003636 for child abuse reports”.20 There is no readily
available information as to the number of complaints received, addressed and adjudicated by the
mechanism regarding abuses against children in street situation.
Additionally, there is no National Human Rights Institution in the Islamic Republic of Iran that is
competent to receive and address complaints of violations of children’s rights.
11
General Comment No.21 on children in street situations, Committee on the Rights of the Child, CRC/C/GC/21,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC/C/GC/21&Lang=en
12
National Report, UPR 2019, Islamic Republic of Iran, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/WG.6/34/IRN/1
13
Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/23/iran-child-protection-law-positive-insufficient
14
Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/legal_draft/state/1055680
15
General Comment No.21 on children in street situations, Committee on the Rights of the Child, CRC/C/GC/21,
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC/C/GC/21&Lang=en
16
Radio Farda, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-city-employee-forces-chldren-to-eat-flowers-they-sell/29707131.html
17
Ibid.
18
Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/23/iran-child-protection-law-positive-insufficient
19
Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/legal_draft/state/1055680
20
National Report, UPR 2019, Islamic Republic of Iran, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/WG.6/34/IRN/1
2