On June 1, 1950, an international conference of women organized under the auspices of the United Nations decided to dedicate the day to the protection of children. Since then, June 1 has been observed as International Children's Day.

On this occasion, let us take a brief look at the state of children's rights in Iran.

Violations of children's rights in Iran are reflected in serious issues such as the execution of juvenile offenders, child marriage, military exploitation, child labor, and the denial of citizenship rights.

Contrary to international conventions, the death penalty has been applied to individuals who committed offenses while under the age of 18.

The main concerns regarding children's rights in Iran include:

Executions of Juvenile Offenders:
Iran is among the few countries in the world that have carried out executions of individuals for crimes committed when they were under the age of 18. Many death-row prisoners have been sentenced for offenses allegedly committed before reaching adulthood.

Military Exploitation and Training:
Although international law prohibits the recruitment of children under the age of 15 into military service or armed conflicts, there have been reports of minors in Iran being involved in military and ideological training programs.

Child Marriage:
Iranian law sets a relatively low legal marriage age for girls, contributing to child marriages and increasing the likelihood that girls will be deprived of educational opportunities and other fundamental rights.

Denial of Citizenship:
According to unofficial reports, hundreds of thousands of children—particularly those born to Iranian women married to foreign nationals—face difficulties obtaining official identification documents and citizenship. This can deprive them of access to various social services and educational rights.

Child Labor and Exploitation:
Due to difficult economic conditions, many children are forced to work on the streets or are exploited in informal workplaces and labor sectors.

Restrictions on Identity Documents:
Families belonging to non-Persian ethnic groups, particularly Azerbaijani Turks, have reported difficulties in registering certain Turkish names for their children. In some cases, official identity documents are delayed or denied, requiring lengthy legal proceedings. Critics argue that such delays can restrict children's access to basic services, including healthcare, medical treatment, and vaccinations.

International Children's Day serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting children's rights and ensuring that every child has access to safety, education, healthcare, and equal opportunities regardless of their background.