Concluding observation Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights E/C.12/IRN/CO/2 para 21 Full recommendation: The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary steps to further reduce poverty and extreme poverty, in particular in provinces populated by ethnic minorities, such as Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan and Kordestan. The Committee requests the State party to include in its next periodic report disaggregated and comparative data, by year and province, on the number of men and women living in poverty and extreme poverty. Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1 A. The Committee recommends that the Islamic Republic of Iran take all necessary steps to further reduce poverty and extreme poverty, in particular in provinces populated by ethnic minorities, such as Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan and Kordestan. According to the five-year development plans of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is currently running its sixth program (approved in 2017 and covering 2017-2021), councils have been set up under the State Budget and Planning Organization in each province to identify needs, programs and proposals related to regional development.2 These councils, known as the Provincial Planning and Development Council3, have a mix of twenty-nine members with zero dedicated seats to civil and non-governmental organizations which equals to a lack of consideration for the needs of the population, particularly disadvantaged groups such as ethnic minorities. Some of the policies undertaken by the Iranian Government such as the relative lack of state investment and attention in areas with high concentrations of ethnic minorities as well as a decrease in the regional budgets, continue to hold large numbers of Iranians in abject poverty. For example, the provincial budget of Sistan and Baluchestan province decreased by 48% in fiscal year 1397 (2018-2019)4 compared to the previous year5, and the provincial budget of Kurdistan province decreased by 58% and Ilam province decreased by 51%.6 1 ESCR.11.1.S.1 ESCR.11.1.P.2 ESCR.11.1.O.3 2 Research Center of the Iranian parliament (Majlis): https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/121060 3 Planning and Budget Organization of Iran: https://www.mporg.ir/home/wid/slider/id/101317/ 4 Shenasname: https://shenasname.ir/laws/budjet/1397/4378-budjet97 5 Shenasmane: https://shenasname.ir/laws/budjet/budjet98/4962-budjet98 6 ibid 1

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