Human Rights Watch has revealed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's escalation in recruiting children as part of an internal mobilization campaign, warning that involving children under the age of 12 in military activities represents a serious violation of children's rights and constitutes a war crime when the children are under 15.
In a new report, the organization stated that the campaign named "Defenders of the Homeland for Iran" has lowered the minimum age for recruitment to 12 years, amid rising tensions with the United States and Israel. It noted that the presence of children in military missions exposes them to the risk of death and injury.
Details of the Campaign
Bill Van Esveld, the co-director of the organization's Child Rights Division, stated that "there is no justification for a military recruitment campaign targeting children, especially at the age of 12." He added that Iranian authorities appear willing to risk children's lives to bolster their workforce.
On March 26, Rahim Nadali, an official in the "Mohammad Rasulullah 27" division of the Revolutionary Guard, announced that the campaign is open to civilians starting from the age of 12, where they can register at mosques in Tehran. The organization confirmed that the campaign includes security and field roles, such as cooking, medical care, and distributing supplies, in addition to operating checkpoints and patrols.
Background & Context
It is important to note that child recruitment in Iran is not a new phenomenon, as authorities have recruited children under 18 into the Basij force, and the Revolutionary Guard has sent Afghan migrant children to fight in Syria. The organization has previously documented the deaths of boys under the age of 14 in those battles.
The organization also reported that Iranian authorities recruited hundreds of thousands of children during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of them. These precedents make the current campaign even more alarming, especially with the expansion of military operations within Iran.
Impact & Consequences
This campaign is a clear violation of Iranian laws and Iran's international obligations, as the "Convention on the Rights of the Child" prohibits the recruitment of children under the age of 15. Although Iran signed the optional protocol attached to it, it has not ratified it.
Esveld stated that officials involved in this policy are exposing children to serious risks and are subjecting themselves to criminal liability. He emphasized that leaders who do not stop this practice cannot claim to care about the children of Iran.
Regional Significance
Concerns are growing that child recruitment in Iran could exacerbate security situations in the region, as armed conflicts may intensify. Additionally, these practices could negatively impact Iran's image in the international community, increasing pressure on it.
Ultimately, the issue of child recruitment in Iran remains a sensitive matter that requires urgent international attention, as the international community must take effective steps to pressure Iranian authorities to stop these violations.