Single Event

Description

The Iranian authorities have a history of promoting martyrdom among children and youth, encouraging their participation in military activities through cultural and educational initiatives. This trend that began decades ago persists despite Iran’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, reflecting a continued enforcement of militarization among young people.

Facts:
Historical Context of Youth Involvement in War: According to Mohsen Kazemi, commander of the Mohammad Rasoulollah (SA) Corps, approximately 300,000 Iranian children were mobilized during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988). He noted that young people and students constituted a significant portion of the fighters and casualties.

Military Training Programs for Youth: The Imam Zaman Mosque in Tehran’s Khanabad neighborhood, under Basij supervision, provides military training to children as part of summer programs.

Promotion of Martyrdom Culture: After the Iran- Iraq war, the Iranian authorities continued to promote the culture of martyrdom among youth, framing young people’s participation in the war against Iraq as honorable and commendable.

Statements by Leadership: In 2015, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei emphasized the importance of educating “revolutionary, brave, and self-sacrificing” youth, encouraging revolutionary activities within schools.

Mohsen Kazemi, the commander of the Mohammad Rasoulollah (SA) Corps, has been quoted as saying: "During the Iran-Iraq war in the years 1359 to 1367, about 300,000 Iranian children were sent to the front. He adds: "One third of the fighters and one fourth of the martyrs of the Sacred Defense are made up of youth and students."

Legal and Human Rights Considerations:
- International Standards on Child Recruitment: Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, recruitment and use of children under 15 in hostilities is prohibited.
- Potential Violations of International Law: The documented promotion of military training for children under Basij programs could constitute a violation of international laws prohibiting the recruitment of minors for armed conflict.
- Responsibility under International Humanitarian Law: The encouragement of youth participation in military training and conflicts, and the large-scale mobilization of children during the Iran-Iraq war, may be viewed as contravening global prohibitions against child recruitment in warfare.

Iran’s persistent promotion of militarization among youth, seen in historical and recent examples, raises serious human rights concerns. The government’s endorsement of children’s involvement in military contexts, despite formal adherence to child rights standards, signals a deep-rooted policy that conflicts with international norms. The structured involvement of young people in military training and ideological indoctrination poses a significant human rights challenge and demands closer scrutiny and patterns prevail.