Opportunities and Challenges for the Engagement of Islamic Religious Leaders in Children’s Rights from the Perspective of UNICEF Iran

his is a presentation by then UNICEF representative in Iran at the Child’s Rights Panel of the Mofid University’s Fourth International Conference on Human Rights entitled Human Rights and Religion , which was held at Mofid University on May 16th-17th 2007. Reper Sentative, UNICEF-IRAN Children’s rights are everybody’s business. While Governments have a special accountability to ensure child rights, they cannot and should not do the job alone. Iran has a remarkably young population with approximately 38 % of its citizens being under the age of 18 and even 70% under the age of 29. Therefore broad-based social engagement for children is a public and private responsibility. Clerics have strong influence and guide thinking and action of millions of believers. Bringing together child rights and Islam is neither as difficult as it may seem nor is it a small challenge. For this engagement to become successful it is important for religious leaders and partners from other sectors of the society to walk together in practical partnerships. From an international perspective the engagement of religious and non-religious actors for the child rights should be guided by: the best interest of the child. The Convention on the Rights of the Child introduces this principle formally in its article three to guide action of policy makers and caretakers: In all action concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative or legislative bodies, the best interest of the child shall be a primary consideration.