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