18 November, the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence, is a reminder of one of the deepest and most concealed human crises—one that, in many countries, is addressed through transparent mechanisms, specialized support systems, and accountability frameworks. In Iran, however, this crisis remains hidden beneath institutional secrecy, discriminatory laws, and repressive structures that obscure its reality from society and public consciousness.
In Iran, children—girls and boys—face a series of layered threats: from forced and legally sanctioned child marriage for girls, to sexual abuse in the home, schools, public institutions, and public spaces; and in deeply disturbing cases, sexual violence against girls and boys detained during protests. Limited domestic data also indicate that boys, particularly in environments outside the home, face significant exposure to sexual abuse.
The absence of safe reporting channels, fear of reprisal or social stigma, and the regime’s official policy of statistical secrecy have concealed the true scope of the crisis. Drawing on international documentation, official data, and real cases from various provinces, this report presents a clear and evidence-based account of sexual violence against children in Iran—violence that is not incidental, but a direct result of inadequate laws, institutional failures, and entrenched policies that leave both girls and boys defenseless and unheard.
Section II: Structural and Legal Context of Sexual Violence Against Children in Iran
Sexual violence and exploitation against children occur within a system in which the legal framework, protective institutions, and judicial procedures all suffer from fundamental deficiencies. The most critical structural factors include:
- Legalized child marriage as a formal pathway to sexual exploitation
Article 1041 of the Civil Code permits the marriage of girls under 13 with the permission of a guardian and a court order.
In 2022, more than 25,900 marriages of girls under 18 were registered, including more than 9,700 marriages of girls aged 10 to 14.
The registration of 1,392 births to mothers under the age of 15 demonstrates that these marriages function as legalized sexual exploitation and child pregnancy.
Attempts to raise the minimum marriage age have repeatedly been rejected by the Guardian Council.
- Extremely low age of criminal responsibility
The age of criminal responsibility is set at 9 lunar years for girls and 15 lunar years for boys.
This creates a fundamental contradiction:
A child considered “adult” for punishment at age nine receives almost no protection against sexual violence at the same age.
- Legal gaps in the protection of children from sexual abuse
Iranian law lacks comprehensive definitions and criminalization of “sexual exploitation,” “child pornography,” and “child sex trafficking.”
The 2020 Child Protection Law exists, but penalties are minimal and lack deterrent force.
In many cases involving abuse by parents or relatives, mechanisms for immediate and safe separation of the child from the abuser are effectively absent.
- Lack of independent and effective institutions
Social services and the Welfare Organization often operate under political pressure and have repeatedly stated that sexual abuse cases fall outside their mandate.
Many cases are closed without a psychological assessment or professional intervention.
- State policy of secrecy
National statistics on child sexual abuse are not published.
Available partial data show 531 reported cases out of 27,000 child abuse files (2016).
Family secrecy, intimidation by security agencies, and fear of social stigma result in significant underreporting.
This secrecy constitutes an institutional policy that prevents understanding the true scope of the crisis and effectively makes access to justice and reparation impossible for children.
Section III: Documented Cases of Sexual Violence Against Children in Iran
- Sexual abuse within the family – widespread, concealed, and suppressed
Forensic Medicine reports in Tehran indicate that a significant share of child sexual abuse occurs inside the home, perpetrated by fathers, stepfathers, or male relatives.
Girls aged 11 to 15 are among the most affected, and boys aged 6 to 10 face risks primarily from relatives and acquaintances.
Fear of dishonor, threats, and family pressure prevent many cases from ever being reported.
For many children, the home becomes the most dangerous environment.
- Institutional sexual abuse – state-run centers, orphanages, and schools
Documented cases in Tehran, Alborz, Isfahan, and Kelardasht show that children aged 7 to 11 have been sexually abused by staff in state-run facilities.
Secrecy, pressure on families, and lack of judicial follow-up are recurring patterns across all these cases.
- Sexual exploitation of child laborers and migrant children
More than 60,000 street children live in Iran, many of whom are victims of sexual exploitation.
Child laborers in Tehran, Mashhad, Kermanshah, and Zahedan—and particularly Afghan migrant children lacking documentation—face abuse by employers, trafficking networks, and adult strangers.
In the majority of cases, no official complaint is filed and no legal process follows.
- Sexual violence and torture against detained children
UN reports confirm that boys and girls aged 12 to 17 detained during the 2019 and 2022 protests were subjected to sexual threats, forced touching, and sexual abuse aimed at extracting confessions.
In some provinces, cases involving the use of objects for assault have been reported.
These patterns show that sexual violence is used as a political tool against detained children.
Section IV: Legal Analysis – Violations of Iran’s Obligations
By ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Iran is obligated to prevent, protect, investigate, prosecute, and ensure reparation in cases of child sexual violence. However, evidence shows:
- Domestic laws contradict core principles of child protection
Legalized child marriage, the low age of criminal responsibility, and the absence of comprehensive criminalization of sexual exploitation violate Iran’s international obligations.
- Failure to prevent, protect, and provide treatment
Lack of immediate protective mechanisms, insufficient psychosocial services, and neglect of child laborers and migrant children constitute clear violations of required prevention and protection duties.
- Failure to investigate and ensure accountability
Statistical secrecy, the absence of impartial investigations, and impunity for perpetrators violate the state’s obligation to ensure justice and reparation.
Sexual violence against detained children constitutes torture under international law.
Section V: State Secrecy and Institutional Response
Across all contexts—households, state institutions, child labor settings, and detention—common patterns emerge:
- Official denial or minimization
- Threats against families
- Suppression of information and deletion of reports
- Incomplete or inconclusive investigations
- Structural impunity for perpetrators
These patterns obstruct structural reform and effectively prevent children’s access to justice and reparation.
Section VI: Conclusion and Call to Action
Sexual violence against children in Iran—from homes to state institutions, from streets to detention centers—reveals a web of dangers rooted in discriminatory laws, institutional weaknesses, and systemic secrecy.
Urgent measures are necessary:
- Complete abolition of child marriage and establishment of 18 as the minimum age
- Comprehensive criminalization of all forms of child sexual exploitation and child pornography
- Creation of independent and safe reporting mechanisms
- Impartial investigations into cases in state facilities and detention centers
- Special protection measures for child laborers and migrant children
- Provision of medical, psychological, and social rehabilitation services for all child victims
Children in Iran need visibility, protection, and justice—especially when they cannot speak for themselves.
