The Universal Children’s Day, a day to be celebrated for children in Iran? Not this year, when they are experiencing an unprecedented level of violence and dismay in their country. The existing ruthlessness, due to the current political tensions in Iran, has multidimensional impact on their lives, now and in the future. Their eyes and minds are witnessing a harsh volume of brutality that is unimaginable for a child.
The world is watching UNICEF and expect it to go beyond service and supply delivery; UNICEF should take a strong position against the very inherent rights of children when they most need and wait for it. As the main UN body responsible for safeguarding and promoting the human rights of children, it should not compromise the rights of the child even in the most politicized and polarized locations.
UNICEF and its staff should systematically and consistently talk and advocate about the rights of the child, on 20th of November and throughout the years, in practice and in theory and make the shareholders responsible for it.
Compromising the word "rights” and replacing it with "needs", and erasing the rights-based terminology from the human rights literature would be one of the entry points to turn a blind eye on the human rights and the inherent dignity of every child. Children in Iran right now need to be seen and heard from the international community.
We all can be their voice and echo it in all human rights forums.
Our compatriots, brothers and sisters, are being killed and targeted by the IRI in what are like full war like attacks. This is tragic and a blatant violation of all human rights of the people. It deserves the most urgent and serious condemnation by all International Organizations, all progressive organizations, Civil Society Organizations, activists and others. The Kurds of Iran have seen such violence and oppression on many occasions in our modern history but enough is enough. I also expected UNICEF to speak out again these crimes against humanity as many children/youth are also being killed and targeted. I am reminded of the early 1990s when I would go on UNICEF missions to Kurdestan (Iran) for our Girls' Education project and interact with Kurdish teachers, students, parents...who would share their aspirations, experiences with earlier rounds of regime brutality and stories of resistance with us. Let us all stand up for the peoples of Iran and especially these days, the people of Kurdistan.
ReplyDeleteNiloufar