TEHRAN (Iran News) “Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have resulted in wholesale devastation. Words and numbers alone cannot convey the scale of the impact on children that I saw – an impact that will last for generations,” UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Director Edouard Beigbeder said in a statement on Sunday, according to Turkish Anadolu Agency.

He said the Gaza ceasefire, which “offers a vital chance for the survival, safety, and dignity of children,” cannot be allowed to fail.

“It will take time, but an inclusive future that prioritizes the rights of Gaza’s one million children is possible with peace, action, and collective will.”

According to UN data, more than 64,000 children have been killed or injured, and more than 58,000 have lost a parent since the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

“One million children have endured the daily horrors of surviving in the world’s most dangerous place to be a child, leaving them with wounds of fear, loss, and grief,” Beigbeder said.

He noted that UNICEF is working to save children from “preventable threats, like malnutrition, disease, and the winter cold.”

“The importance of restoring education in this early recovery work cannot be overstated. After two lost years, families know that a return to proper education will provide a foundation for learning, healing, hope, and long-term social cohesion in their communities,” Beigbeder said.

The regional director called for “the safe, rapid and unimpeded movement” of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, noting an increase in the amount of UNICEF aid allowed, which is still not sufficient to meet the needs of civilians in Gaza.

He demanded that Israel open all border crossings simultaneously for the entry of humanitarian aid and needed equipment and materials, allowing relief to move through all feasible supply routes, including through Egypt, Jordan, and the West Bank.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) According to IRNA, the UNICEF announced in message posted on its X social media platform on Tuesday local time that seven babies have died in the Gaza Strip in recent days due to the cold.

The organization added that while it is delivering winter clothes and blankets to families, the need is great as most displaced Gazans remain without proper shelter and other essentials during harsh winter conditions.

The call comes as several parts of Gaza has been flooded due to heavy rains over the past couple of days, adding misery to the people already in the dire humanitarian condition.

Reports indicate that floods have entered dozens of tents of displaced people in the cities of Deir al Balah, al-Mawasi and Khan Younis.

Previously, the UNICEF announced that 2024 had been the worst year for children, with an estimated 473 million children (one in six children) living in war zones worldwide, including in Gaza.

“By almost every measure, 2024 has been one of the worst years on record for children in conflict in UNICEF’s history—both in terms of the number of children affected and the level of impact on their lives,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

Some media reports pointed to the martyrdom of more than 17,000 children during the approximately 15 months of the Israeli regime’s genocidal war on Gaza, with Al Jazeera quoted UNICEF spokesperson Rosalia Bolen as saying recently: 96 percent of women and children in Gaza cannot meet their vital food needs, and children suffer from illness and lack of winter clothing.

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On January 28, an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale hit Khoy in the northwestern West Azarbaijan province. The disaster affected at least 261,000 people and displaced 130,000 from their homes.

A total of 1,700 male and female students and 120 of their family members attended these workshops.

These educational workshops were held with the aim of empowering children and their families in team building, team support, anger management, emotion regulation, empathy, happiness, self-care, and environmental care.

Facilitators of these workshops had earlier participated in a capacity-building training program organized jointly by UNICEF and the IRCS, funded by the EU’s European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the UNICEF website announced in a press release on November 12.

During these training programs, facilitators, and members of the IRCS teams, improved their technical skills in emergency preparedness, including providing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to children, adolescents, and families during crises, including natural hazards.

In the aftermath of the January 2023 earthquake in Khoy, UNICEF offered vital relief aid to the affected population. This included psychosocial support, distribution of hygiene packs, financial assistance to vulnerable populations for rebuilding damaged homes, and provision of prefabricated health clinics and classrooms, the report added.

Wellbeing, empowerment programs

Two pilot programs for young boys and girls’ well-being and empowerment have been launched in four provinces of the country.

Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Drug Control Headquarters in cooperation with UNICEF have implemented these programs in Kermanshah, Alborz, Isfahan, and Mashhad.

One program is for empowering adolescents and young boys and the other program is for girls’ psycho-social health and their empowerment.

Soft and technical skills are taught to boys aged 15 to 24 in three UNICEF-supported centers located in Kermanshah, Alborz, and Isfahan provinces.

The centers provide different services including on-the-job training, internships, mentoring, psycho-social support, counseling, and social entrepreneurship programs.

The focus of this program is to facilitate a smooth transition from learning to earning, empowering 1,618 adolescents and youth in these provinces, the UNICEF website announced in a press release on November 13.

In the next step, with the expansion of this program, it will encompass the following provinces: Sistan-Baluchestan, South Khorasan, Khorasan Razavi, Kerman, and Hormozgan.

Some of these provinces have a significant number of Afghan refugee children and adolescents.

Simultaneously, the psycho-social well-being and empowerment centers for girls in the cities of Mashhad and Kermanshah have played an important role in addressing the psycho-social challenges of vulnerable adolescent girls in these provinces.

These centers are dedicated to preventing substance use and mitigating social harm among young girls, the report added.

A total of 2,023 adolescent girls and their families, 1,720 girls and 303 parents, have received support through a holistic approach which includes face-to-face meetings online outreach, and referral services.

After evaluating the results of these programs and enhancing the capacity of non-governmental organizations, these programs will be implemented in other provinces that face the challenge of illegal drug use.

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The joint plan of action is to be implemented over 2023-2024. It will be the main base of cooperation with UNICEF in combating narcotics.

The joint activities will be defined and carried out in cooperation with relevant national institutions, Fars reported.

Also, in the past four years through implementing two joint plans of action, some activities have been carried out for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse among adolescents.

Setting up two health and rehabilitation centers for at-risk adolescents in two provinces of the country, which are known as exemplary centers providing services to the target community, was one of the measures taken in this regard.

Previous co-op

On October 15, UNICEF and the Iranian anti-narcotics headquarters cooperated to develop an emergency protocol for staff working with at-risk adolescents to enhance their capacity for addressing youth needs during emergencies. They also held two workshops in August and September, the UNICEF website reported.

Thanks to these programs, social workers, experts, counselors, volunteers, and peers will be able to provide much more effective services in case of any emergencies to vulnerable youth, adolescents, and their families.

The aim of these workshops was to expand the technical needs of those working with vulnerable and at-risk girls to provide more efficient services to them in case of emergencies.

During the workshops, in addition to capacity building on crisis management and specialized interventions, a protocol for UNICEF-supported Adolescent Wellbeing Centers in Mashhad and Kermanshah was developed to strengthen their emergency response capacity.

In May, Eskandar Momeni, the secretary general of the Iranian anti-narcotics headquarters, said some 1,700 regional and international drug gangs were dismantled by Iran in the year 2022.

“Iran is located next to Afghanistan, the largest producer of opioids, the second largest producer of cannabis, and recently the producer of glass (methamphetamine),” he added.

Momeni made the remarks in a meeting with Iraqi Interior Minister Abdul Amir Kamel Al-Shammari on the sidelines of the first Baghdad International Drug Control Conference which was held from May 9-10.

Setting up about 800 coastal checkpoints in the Persian Gulf, strengthening and developing electronic and electro-optical equipment, and installing land-based radars and specialized cameras are among Iran’s measures to deal with maritime smuggling, Momeni explained.

Momeni signed a memorandum of understanding with Ghada Fathi Waly, the director general of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the sidelines of the 66th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) that was held in Vienna from March 13-17.

The agreement opens a new chapter in Iran’s cooperation with the United Nations in the four areas of dealing with the supply and demand of narcotics, and offering treatment and rehabilitation services, Momeni said, IRIB reported.

“Valuable measures to reduce the rate of infectious diseases such as HIV (AIDS) and hepatitis among addicts have been taken. Setting up healthcare, rehabilitation, and consultation centers, and empowering women and girls in cooperation with the UNODC and UNICEF offices in the cities of Tehran, Kerman, and Kermanshah were among the measures.”

In October, Iran anti-narcotics police chief, Iraj Kakavand, in a meeting with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) representative in Tehran, Alexander Fedulov, called it essential to support Iran in the fight against drug trafficking.

During the meeting, Fedulov said the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been committed to a serious and decisive fight against narcotics at the regional and global level, IRIB reported.

Iran has spent a huge sum of money fighting the war on drugs, and apart from that, many anti-narcotics forces have sacrificed their lives in this way. The high number of martyrs and injured shows Iran’s serious determination to deal with this scourge, the UN official added.

“Considering the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran is at the forefront of the fight against drug trafficking, the UNODC and the international community support of Iran should be proportionate to the activities and actions at the regional and global level.”

He stated since new smuggling routes and concealment methods are emerging, it is necessary for the anti-narcotics police to be equipped with new detection equipment and tools. Needless to say, the UNODC in Tehran plays a prominent role in providing some of these tools.

Kakavand, for his part, highlighted the need to promote regional cooperation and said, “The Anti-Narcotics Police of Iran has always announced its readiness to collaborate and improve cooperation with all the countries in the region and the world to eradicate narcotics.”

Holding meetings with the anti-narcotics police of Pakistan and Afghanistan in the form of a tripartite initiative in previous years is a strong proof of this claim, he noted.

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The contest is organized every year for Iranian journalists and photojournalists by the office and Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

The award ceremony of this year’s competition, which was held on the theme of “Refugee Children, Iranian Hospitality”, took place at the UNICEF office in Tehran last Tuesday.

Abdollah Heidari won first place in the photojournalism category for “Children with No Identity”, a photo story which features the struggles faced by undocumented Afghan refugee children in accessing vital services like education and healthcare.

A jury comprised of experts from the Department of Press and Information of the ministry and UNICEF Iran, reviewed several submissions from different parts of the country to select the winners.

Erfan Kouchari won the award for second place for his photo essay “A Good Life”, which beautifully captures the endeavors of volunteers in providing essential services such as healthcare, education, food and clothing to refugees residing in less-developed provinces.

The third-place award was given to Sahand Taki for his photo essay “A School for Refugee Child Laborers”.

This collection illustrates refugee children who were engaged in child labor, receiving education at classes conducted by a local NGO.

In the journalism category, five writers were awarded. Hoda Hashemi and Faranak Javaheri stood on top of them for their joint article entitled “This Burden Is Heavy”.

The article sheds light on the plight of refugee children toiling in the recycling industry and other sectors on the streets of Tehran.

Maryam Khabbaz won the second prize for her story “The Children of Alimoun Castle”, which tells the story of the neighborhood of Pakistani immigrants in the suburbs of Tehran and their newly opened school.

Parvaneh Bahramnejad was awarded the third prize for her story “Where Is the Playroom for Children in the South of the City?”.

This article illustrates the story of a playroom set up by volunteers and donors for Iranian and Afghan refugee children in Tehran.

The fourth prize went to Taraneh Baniyaqub for the story “Afghan’s Hope for Iran’s Love” which recounts the experiences of newly-arrived refugee children in Iran and their relentless efforts to pursue education amidst challenging circumstances.

Leila Shoqi was picked as the fifth winner of this section for the story “A School for Afghan Children”.

This article centers on a school dedicated to Afghan refugee children, encompassing those enduring life on the streets and engaged in child labor. The story captures the commitment of selfless volunteers and teachers who strive to uplift the lives of these vulnerable children.

Photo: Winner of the journalism category in the UNICEF-Iran cultural competition and the organizers pose at the UNICEF Iran office in Tehran on June 20, 2023. (UNICEF/Andisheh Rad)

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Making investments in programs and services to better care for and support children affected by migration and asylum will reduce costs in the future, he added.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Ali Kazemi, the deputy justice minister, IRNA reported.

Emphasizing the important role of non-governmental organizations in supporting refugee and immigrant children and teenagers, Nandy expressed hope that holding educational workshops will lead to the promotion of children’s rights and justice for children.

Kazemi, for his part, said some 63 percent of Afghan refugees have selected Iran as their destination and the government does its best to settle the refugees with dignity.

The situation of non-Iranian children and adolescents and their families who have sought refuge in the Islamic Republic of Iran due to migration or injuries caused by unforeseen events and natural disasters or issues such as war has always been of concern to Iran, IRNa quoted Kazemi as saying.

It is expected that international organizations and other countries will also provide more assistance in this field in line with their humanitarian responsibilities and duties arising from human rights conventions, he added.

The Law on the protection of children and adolescents considers protection as the right of all people under the age of 18 who live within the borders of the Islamic Republic, Kazemi highlighted.

“According to the law, equal and non-discriminatory treatment in terms of color, race, religion, language, health, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and family status is the right of every child living in Iran.

The indisputable principle that governs all measures related to children and various legal protections have been considered for non-Iranian children and adolescents.”

The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently host to one of the largest and most protracted refugee populations in the world, the majority of whom are Afghan refugees.

The country is home to over 800,000 registered refugees and some 2.6 million undocumented Afghans. Today, more than 500,000 Afghan children- including undocumented Afghans and those who have newly arrived in Iran following the Taliban-takeover-are benefitting from Iran’s inclusive education policies, one of the most progressive in the world.

Many of the refugees living in Iran are second and third-generation, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Iran has spent more than $352 million in the current school year that started on September 23 on the education of Afghan students.

Over 670,000 students of Afghan nationals are studying in Iran, and the cost of educating these students is more than $352 million, IRNA reported.

In the current school year, $17 million of international aid and $335.631 million dollars from internal sources have been spent on the education of Afghan nationals.

However, international organizations have paid less than 3.9 percent of the cost of education for Afghan students in Iran in the last two years.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued a decree in May 2015 that allows all foreign nationals, even those who have no identification and are living in Iran illegally, to attend schools in the country.

Relying on moral and Islamic principles, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has created equal conditions in benefiting from educational opportunities for Afghan students.

In the previous school year, some 556,000 Afghan students studied in Iranian schools.

Afghan students are currently studying in 6,000 schools across Iran, of which 88 schools are being built with the participation of international organizations.

The literacy rate among refugees has increased significantly in recent decades. So that the literacy rate of Afghan immigrants in Iran is higher than the number of literate people in Afghanistan, according to a report published in June 2022 by the research center of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis).

Iran is among the 15 successful countries in attracting international university students, according to Mohammad Javad Salmanpour, the deputy head of the Organization for Student Affairs.

The education of foreign students in Iran has grown significantly compared to previous years, even last year, it has doubled, he said.

Iran has the ability and capacity to have more than 250,000 foreign students by 2026, he stated.

Ivo Freijsen, Representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Iran, has said Iran is an exemplary country that has acted very well in hosting refugees and has been hosting them for a long time.

Forty years have passed since Iran started hosting them [refugees]. As we have always said, Iran has had positive approaches toward refugees, we appreciate that, and we are honored to support Iran’s efforts, he said in an exclusive interview with Iran Newspaper published on September 4, 2022.

In fact, Iran provides wide-ranging services for refugees such as basic healthcare services, education, and vocational training.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, those who were in Iran, whether the ones that had passports or the ones that had documentation and were [registered] refugees, received the vaccination.

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Under a new nationality law, which was amended in 2019, Iranian citizenship is granted to children under 18 years with Iranian mothers.

The first group of children living in Iran obtained their Iranian nationality and identity booklet (shenasnameh) in November 2020.

Alireza Mahmoudi, head of the Iranian Consulate General in Dubai, said that “Today is a big day for Iranian mothers abroad. This big step was taken with the help of the Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other related organizations.

The first birth certificates were issued to the children of an Iranian woman married to a foreign man in Dubai (Marian and Lillian).

In December 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the registration started for the issuance of birth certificates for children of Iranian mothers abroad.

According to the law, children of Iranian women and non-Iranian men who were born before or after the law can be Iranian citizens in case the Iranian mother requested if they have no security problem before the age of 18.

These children, after reaching the age of 18, can apply for Iranian citizenship if not requested by the mother, then will be granted Iranian citizenship in case of no security problem.

Birth certificates have so far been issued to over 1,400 children in the country, Seifollah Aboutorabi, the National Organization for Civil Registration spokesman, said in May.

Statelessness: a global issue

Although Iran is not a party to the UN Conventions on Statelessness, the Government of Iran is taking steps towards the prevention and reduction of statelessness in the country.

While the law does not give mothers and fathers equal rights to confer nationality to their children, it represents significant progress.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also has welcomed the law as a step toward reducing statelessness around the world.

UNICEF also welcomed the implementation of the Iranian nationality law.

Around the world, stateless people can face a lifetime of exclusion and discrimination and are often denied access to education, health care, and job opportunities – making them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Worldwide, statelessness affects millions of people, leaving them without the basic rights and official recognition that most of us take for granted. Some 3.9 million stateless people appear in the reporting of 78 countries, but UNHCR believes the true total to be significantly higher.

“No child chooses to be stateless,” said Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR Representative in Iran last year. “Without identity and official documents, stateless people are often excluded from society. The Government of Iran is leading by example through its new law. It is a hugely positive move for these children and their families.”

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Covering Isfahan as the first CFCI candidate city, the plan will be piloted in 12 cities including Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, Gorgan, Hamedan, Kerman, Mashhad, Rasht, Semnan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Tehran, and Yazd.

Mapping, developing, and conducting child-centered emergency preparedness and response protocols at the national and provincial level, and supporting the emergency response to COVID-19 are among the programs.

The new joint cooperation, which will continue until December 2022, was signed by Mandeep O’Brien, UNICEF Iran Representative, and Rahim Saki, Deputy Minister, Head of Center for Public Relations and International Affairs of the Ministry of Interior, on May 11.

A Child-Friendly City is a city or a local community where the voices, needs, priorities, and rights of children are an integral part of public policies, programs, and decisions.

The vision for the global CFCI program is that “every child and the young person enjoys their childhood and youth and reaches their full potential through the equal realization of their rights within their cities and communities”.

With the support of the local and national governments, NGOs, the private sector, media, and universities, and in collaboration with UNICEF, this initiative covers more than 30 million children in 3000 cities and local communities in over 40 countries.

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