Iran's commitment on the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labor

In 2002, the International Labour Organization (ILO) established the World Day Against Child Labour, set for June 12, as an opportunity to raise public awareness and mobilize the international community against child exploitation. On this important day of advocacy, governments, institutions, businesses, and civil society unite with the primary goal of defending children's fundamental rights, emphasizing the urgency of ensuring every child's right to education, play, and a healthy upbringing within their family. The 2026 edition takes on even greater significance, building on the momentum of the Sixth World Conference on the Elimination of Child Labour held in Marrakech, Morocco, which introduced a new and concrete global Framework for Action to translate political commitments into measurable results on the ground.

The Islamic Republic of Iran participates in this day with pride and deep commitment. The country boasts labor laws that strictly prohibit the employment of children under 15, imposing severe penalties for employers who violate the law, and establishing special protections for those aged between 15 and 18. Moreover, in Iranian culture and according to Islamic law, children are considered the most precious asset in the family, a divine blessing, and the ultimate purpose of marriage. Parents devote special attention and extraordinary financial sacrifices to their children, ensuring their well-being, health, and the best possible education.

In Iran, primary school is mandatory and free by law: the country has achieved extremely high childhood literacy rates (over 98%), investing heavily in building schools even in the most remote rural areas, thus ensuring full equality of access for boys and girls. Furthermore, through a widespread network of primary care centers and universal vaccination programs, the Islamic Republic has dramatically reduced infant mortality in recent decades, ensuring free basic healthcare from the first days of life.

In the Islamic vision, childhood is held in the highest and most sacred regard. Religious texts and jurisprudence define it as a divine blessing and an absolute ethical responsibility for the entire community. According to Islamic theology, children are considered a precious gift from God, a sacred trust temporarily entrusted to parents, who have a precise religious, as well as moral, duty to protect, nurture, and raise them with love. In light of these principles, the State takes the front line in protecting children and strongly opposes the exploitation of child labor, encouraging literacy, strengthening cultural centers, and supporting families to ensure they have the economic means to support their children's upbringing.

Because a society that leaves children behind is destined to fade away, while a state that defends childhood guarantees its own future.