Statement by
Ms. Fatemeh Arab Bafrani
Second Secretary
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
Before the Third Committee of the 77th Session of the General Assembly
On Agenda Item 64: “Promotion and Protection of the rights of children”
General Discussion
New York, 10 October 2022
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Mr. Chairman,
Iran notes the reports and contributions made under this agenda item. The world is witnessing various challenges affecting children more than ever. These challenges range from hunger, extreme poverty, the pandemic, humanitarian situations, conflicts, climate change, and lack of access to education, to unilateral coercive measures.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, through a comprehensive approach, continues to work towards building child protection systems, improving legislative frameworks, addressing root causes and vulnerabilities, identifying and supporting victims and survivors, and providing care, recovery, rehabilitation, and long-term reintegration services, with the participation of different governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Our introductory report on the implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography is submitted in 2021. Iran has also finalized the 5th and 6th reports on the implementation of obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child which will be submitted in the near future.
Iran`s firmly committed to take efforts to promote and protect the human rights and well-being of its people, particularly children. Children's health has always been among the highest priorities in our health policies and system. In this regard, Iran continues implementing its mass immunization programs to protect children from the very first day of birth. In 2019, when the Eastern Mediterranean region was experiencing its greatest upsurge in measles cases, Iran received a certificate for measles elimination in October 2019. Notably, Iran also received the certification for rubella elimination in May, 2019. It is worth highlighting that the Covid vaccination is also implemented for children over five years old in my country.
National policies and programs in order to improve health indicators have led to several outstanding achievements. For instance, under 5 mortality rate of Iran has decreased to less than 13 deaths per thousand live births in 2020. The current infant mortality rate in 2022 is 10.9 deaths per 1000 live births.
To protect children's rights, we have adopted a Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents in 2020. According to Article 3 of this law, in cases where a child or adolescent is exposed to Juvenile delinquency or harm to their physical, mental, social, moral, security, or educational status, it is considered a perilous situation and warrants legal intervention and protection. As per Article 10 of the said Law, any molestation, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, forcing the child or adolescent to pornography, or any sexual abuse shall constitute an offense punishable by Law.
A Document is also adopted on Protecting Children and Adolescents in Cyberspace in 2021. Our legal system also criminalizes any interaction with children in cyberspace aiming to sexual harassment or having sexual relations.
To facilitate the enjoyment of stateless children from protection by the law, the Civil Law was amended in 2019 to grant Iranian citizenship to children born to Iranian mothers and non-Iranian fathers.
For more than four decades, Mr. Chair, my Country has generously hosted millions of refugees, displaced persons, migrants, and foreign aliens in the absence of international support and simultaneously with the harshest unilateral sanctions ever imposed on a country. In this context, we have provided facilities for their education, nutrition, and health without any discrimination.
Nevertheless, no country may easily step forward while facing strong pushbacks.
Iran highlights the grave concerns over the negative impacts of unilateral coercive measures on the health of children in developing countries, which should be urgently taken into consideration. The USA has imposed illegal unilateral coercive measures against the people of my country, including children.
Children suffering from EB, also known as "butterfly children," and those with thalassemia and other rare diseases are in danger of death due to not receiving medicines. The US must be held to account for the crimes against humanity. The children's best interests should be the sole consideration in all measures that affect them. The international community should take responsibility for addressing the challenges that persist, particularly the negative impacts of economic sanctions on children in concerned countries.
Thank you for your attention