The Iranian Interior Minister states that street children whose families cannot be identified will be directed to 'schools or relevant institutions' for 'skill acquisition.' According to Tasnim News Agency, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli announced this during a meeting of the National Social Council on November 2, referring to the Ministry of Interior's program for what he termed the 'organization' of street children and adolescents, emphasizing that this issue should be prioritized in cities most affected by it. He noted that street children and adolescents who 'have parents should be returned to their families based on the identification that takes place.' Rahmani Fazli added that street children and adolescents who cannot be identified for any reason should be directed to schools or relevant institutions based on their interests for skill acquisition. The Interior Minister also mentioned the possibility that businesses and employers might refrain from paying their insurance costs for employment, adding that 'the government will also take action to pay this insurance if necessary' so that children who receive training can 'become employed.' Meanwhile, Homayoun Hashemi, a member of the Health Commission of the Parliament, stated in an interview with the House of the Nation news agency on November 1 that child labor under the age of 16 is illegal, saying, 'There is no prohibition on education and training for children under 16, but child labor under 16 contradicts international labor laws.' In this context, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli also emphasized the need to utilize 'the capacity of benefactors and non-profit organizations' for organizing street children and adolescents. The Interior Minister's remarks about the Ministry's new program for organizing street children come at a time when the first phase of this plan, which involved collecting these children, faced criticism from several civil activists and members of the Tehran City Council. Motahareh Nazari, chair of the Board of Directors of the Association for the Support of Children's Rights, reacted to the Ministry's action by stating that the plan to collect working and street children has been executed '30 times' and has been 'unsuccessful.' 300 lawyers, university professors, social workers, and child rights activists also published a letter calling for an end to the 'collection of working and street children' plan. They believe that solving this problem requires conditions such as improving the economic situation of 'vulnerable' families and ensuring that their children receive education.
Interior Minister: Street Children to be Directed for Skill Acquisition
The Iranian Interior Minister announced a plan to direct street children to educational institutions for skill acquisition, particularly those whose families cannot be identified. This initiative has faced criticism from civil rights activists who argue that previous attempts to collect street children have failed and that the root issues, such as family poverty and lack of education, need to be addressed. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in addressing child labor and welfare in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian Interior Minister announced a new initiative to direct street children to educational institutions for skill acquisition, especially those without identifiable families. This plan has faced criticism from civil rights activists who argue that previous similar efforts have failed.
- The initiative aims to provide skill acquisition opportunities for street children.
- Civil activists criticize the plan, citing past failures and the need to address root causes like poverty.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has struggled with the issue of street children due to economic hardships and social policies. Previous attempts to 'collect' street children have been criticized for not addressing underlying causes.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%