UNICEF has expressed deep concern over reports of children being held in detention following recent public unrest in Iran. The agency is calling for the immediate release of all minors arrested in connection with the protests.
Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated in a release on Thursday that the agency is troubled by the continued detention of these children. “While the number of children currently detained, or the conditions of their detention cannot be verified, we urge that immediate, independent access be granted to all detained children to assess their situation, treatment, and well-being,” he said.
Lasting Consequences for Detained Children
Beigbeder highlighted the severe and long-lasting impact that detention can have on young individuals. “The adverse impact of detention and incarceration on children is well documented. Children are not ‘little adults,’ they require special care. Deprivation of liberty entails life lasting consequences to the development of the child, but also for the future of the society overall,” he emphasized.
He further noted that children deprived of their liberty must be treated with humanity and dignity, and their regular contact with families should be maintained, obligations that are binding under international law. UNICEF is urging an end to all forms of child detention and the immediate release of children detained in Iran following the recent unrest. The agency reminded that Iran is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, obligating the country to respect, protect, and fulfill children’s rights.
Regional Tensions and UN’s Stance
Meanwhile, at the UN Headquarters in New York, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric conveyed the Secretary-General’s concern regarding the military buildup in the Persian Gulf, including observed war games and training exercises. Dujarric stated that the UN continues to encourage both Iran and the United States to engage in discussions facilitated by Oman.
