Concluding Observations Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para
82(b)
Full recommendation:
Ensure prompt registration of all its asylum-seeking and refugee children in order to provide them
with access to all basic services, including health care and education for free.
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
Registered refugees are granted legal recognition under a system known as Amayesh. The
Ministry of Interior’s Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs is responsible for
refugee affairs, including the issuance of Amayesh cards. An Amayesh card proves legal right of
residence and entitles the cardholder access to government services, including healthcare and
education. The card has to be renewed regularly for a fee. However, no new Amayesh card
registrations have taken place since 2007, meaning that there has been no registration of new
refugees since then. The Islamic Republic of Iran reportedly hosts between 1.5 million and 2
million undocumented Afghans (i.e. who reside in the country illegally, without an Amayesh card
or valid visa).2
According to the Government, all children, regardless of their legal status have access to the
national education system in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 3 In May 2015, the Supreme Leader
issued a decree requiring the Ministry of Education to “enroll, in schools, students of foreign
nationality, asylum seekers and refugees who do not have legal residency in the country.” 4
Following the decree, the government engaged in a number of improvements for refugee and
undocumented Afghans, including through the creation of an educational support card for
undocumented Afghan children. 5 In 2019, UNHCR reported 480,000 Afghan children
benefitting from these inclusive education policies, including 130,000 undocumented Afghan
children.6 A significant number of refugee children is however believed to remain out of school.7
8 9
1
CRC.22.1.S.1; CRC.22.1.S.2; CRC.22.2.S.2
CRC.22.1.P.1; CRC.22.2.P.1
CRC.22.1.O.4; CRC.22.2.O.2
2
UNSG Report, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IR/Report_of_the_SecretaryGeneral_on_the_situation_of_human_rights_in_the_Islamic_Republic_of_IranA4320.pdf
3
National Report, UPR 2019, Islamic Republic of Iran, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/WG.6/34/IRN/1
4
Ibid.
5
ANALP, https://www.alnap.org/system/files/content/resource/files/main/UNESCO-Final-Background-Paper.pdf
6
UNHCR, https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2019/12/5defcb6f4/afghan-children-learn-side-side-iranian-peers.html
7
Radio Farda, https://en.radiofarda.com/a/children-of-undocumented-afghan-refugees-exploited-in-iran/29596142.html
8
ALNAP, https://www.alnap.org/system/files/content/resource/files/main/UNESCO-Final-Background-Paper.pdf
9
UNHCR, https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2019/12/5dea18ac4/support-needed-refugee-education-iran.html
1