One, two, three, work and pain
is over, let us all go to school!
The 84th gathering of the International Labour Organisation announced
that in Iran one million eight hundred thousands children work!
While the authority of Iran's Islamic Republic Regime have claimed
time and time again that: It is impossible to review and inspect
this issue, as we lack the necessary manpower to do so! According
to reports by UNICEF published early last year: in Iran 9.2 per
cent of children are engaged n the labour process and do not go
to school. These children are between 6 and 14 years old!
The deplorable condition of Iranian children is a many fold story
which has broken the heart of supporters and activists of children's
rights. Given the background of mass unemployment and sacking of
workers in Iran, at a time when workers are paid such meagre wages
making it impossible to survive, in the absence of any right to
organisation or strike or protest, lack of any social security,
job security... the increase in the number of children who work
has created truly hell on earth for these children and their families.
Of course child labour exists throughout the world and absence of
children's rights has unfortunately worldwide dimensions. However
what makes Iran's child labourers the most forgotten child victims
of the world is that their situation is even worse than other children
in the world. Legal and civil legislation clearly legitimizes abuse
of children and makes their lives hazardous and painful:
-the legal age of marriage for girls is 9 years old according to
article 1210 of the civil law passed in 1981.
-Article 622 of the civil law legitimizes physical punishment of
children
-The section on Islamic punishment in Iran stipulates that should
a man beat up his wife to the extent that she looses an unborn child
he could face the law for 'ghassass' retribution however should
that child survive and the father strangles him/her , the court
would punish the father with 10 days suspended jail sentence and
payment of a fine.
-Article 1179 of the civil law clarifies that parents have the legal
right to punish their children. However the legislation clarifies
they should not punish the children beyond limits! (These limits
are clarified as a level of beating up that leads to the child's
death.)
-Children are not allowed to work below the age of 15, however although
article 79 of the labour legislation clarifies this issue, the number
of children below 15 who join the work force rises every day. The
same law has a note regarding jobs harmful to children under 18
years old and a further legal note number 188 specifying that children
employed by the state sector and children working in private workshops
are exempt from this law. At the same time parents are allowed to
enter into an agreement with the employer transferring all authority
regarding the child to the employer or they can rent out heir children
to owners of private workshops.
There are many other many laws legitimizing child abuse in the Islamic
Republic in Iran states. Children in Iran live truly in hell: they
are beaten up, they suffer sexual abuse, at school they are forced
to learn religious superstition, they are employed at very low wage
sin carpet weaving, mechanics or other workshops so that they can
provide some help to eth family income, they are deprived of education
and training… Many young girls (some children) run away from home
to escape these unberable conditions and end up sleeping rough in
the streets only to start another chapter in their miserable lives
facing humiliation, rape, slavery and violence.
Children in Iran have no right that is why the Association for the
Abolition of child Labour in Iran and the Centre for Children's
literature, Darvag, has started the campaign:
One, two, three, work and pain is over, let us all go to school!
In support of these contemporary Spartacus's, as part of an effort
for the abolition of all legislation allowing child abuse, as a
first step toward the abolition of child Labour in Iran.
We will take the first step towards this on the 1st of May 2006.
On the following dates 12th June , the International day for the
abolition of child labour, 18th Sept the day of the international
march against child Labour and the 20th of November the day of the
ratification of the Convention in defence of children's' rights,
we will propose various activities. (Details will be publicized
later). We invite all of you, friends and protectors of children's
rights to cooperate with us. Participate in this humanitarian campaign,
take part in the activities and organise various protests, gatherings
to strengthen this camping.
In the camping : One , two, three, work and pain is over, let us
all go to school!
Wee will try to achieve the following:
a-The abolition of article 1201 of the civil law which allows 9
years old girls to be married, abolition of article 622 legitimizing
punishment of children according to religious dictate , note 188
of the Labour legislation regarding Child labour and all Islamic
and civil legislations harming children's rights and their well
being , replacing them with laws favouring children's rights.
b-Child labour must be abolished and free , high quality compulsory
education must replace it.
c-In order to abolish child labour adults must be paid a decent
wage, must have job security , the right organise and to strike
and benefit from social security and unemployment benefit..
d-All education programs dealing with religious superstition , propaganda
of violence must be replaced by modern, secular and humane education
in line with International standards
e-All those campaigning for children rights must have social, political
and physical protection
The Association for the Abolition of Child Labour
And the Centre for Children's Literature, Darvag
Suzan Bahar
1 Feb 2006