Children of Iran, Victims of Structural Poverty
Despite the observance of the World Day Against Child Labor, thousands of children in Iran continue to be deprived of their fundamental rights—including the rights to education, health, security, and a dignified life—and are forced into labor and economic exploitation. Child labor is not merely an economic issue; it is a systematic violation of human rights and human dignity, depriving children of their basic rights.
Child labor is inconsistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which recognize children’s rights to an adequate standard of living, education, and protection against economic exploitation. Iranian domestic law, including the Constitution and the Labor Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran, also provides for free education and prohibits the employment of children below the legal working age. Nevertheless, the widespread presence of children in streets, waste collection centers, underground workshops, and informal jobs demonstrates a significant gap between legal commitments and reality. According to recent reports, during the 2025–2026 academic year, around one million children dropped out of school, many of whom entered the labor market. More than 700,000 children are estimated to be engaged in permanent or seasonal work. The expansion of child labor is linked to poverty, economic crises, inflation, unemployment, weak social protection systems, and inadequate public policies, making children the first victims of these conditions.
In 1993, the Islamic Republic of Iran acceded to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and committed itself to ensuring the rights recognized in the Convention for all children. Under Article 32 of the Convention, States are obliged to protect children from economic exploitation and from performing work that is hazardous or harmful to their health, education, or physical, mental, moral, or social development. Articles 28 and 27 also emphasize every child’s right to free education and an adequate standard of living for their development. Iran is also a party to ILO Conventions No. 138 and No. 182, committing itself to establish effective policies to eliminate child labor and protect children from hazardous work and exploitation.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Article 27: Right to an adequate standard of living.
- Article 28: Right to education.
- Article 29: Goals of Education.
- Article 32: Protection from economic exploitation and child labor.
- Article 36: Protection from all other forms of exploitation.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Article 25: Right to an adequate standard of living and special care and assistance for children.
- Article 26: Right to free education.
2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 4: Ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is obligated under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and ILO Conventions No. 138 and No. 182 to comply with its international obligations.
Develop and implement transparent and effective programs to eliminate child labor.
Ensure equal, free, and non-discriminatory access to education for all children.
Take effective measures to protect children from labor exploitation and violence.
Guarantee transparency and allow monitoring by civil society organizations and human rights institutions.
Children are right owners, they should never become victims of poverty or neglect. A society that forces its children to work is sacrificing its future to inequality and injustice.
Childhood is a right, not a privilege for those who exploit it.
Defense of Human Rights Association in Iran
Defense of Defense of the Rights of Child and Adolescent Committee
Translated by Alireza Jahan Bin
