The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, (UNICEF) has called for the protection of children amid public unrest in Iran.
UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder disclosed this in a statement.
“We are extremely concerned by continuing reports of children and adolescents being killed and injured amid the ongoing public unrest in Iran. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed and injured, and we share their grief.”
UNICEF has also called for the protection of all children from all forms of violence and harm.
“They must be safeguarded from any actions that endanger their lives, freedom, mental and physical well-being,” he explained.
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Beigbeder, also urged the Iranian authorities involved in the protests, communities, and families to take every measure to protect children.
“Security forces must refrain from using unnecessary force. And children should not be in settings that put them in danger or deprive them of their liberty.”
“In accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child’s right to life must be respected and safeguarded,” the statement added.
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Meanwhile, the United Nations Human Rights spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence also expresssed concerned over reports of violence, during the nationwide protest in Iran.
“I am deeply disturbed by reports of violence during nationwide protests in Iran over the past 13 days, including reported deaths and destruction of property.”
He noted that the right to peaceful protest, as enshrined in international law, must be protected. Also all deaths should be promptly, independently, and transparently investigated.
“Those responsible for any violations must be held to account in line with international norms and standards.”
”I am also concerned by reports of nationwide internet and communications shutdowns,” he said.
He further explain that such actions undermine freedom of expression and access to information, as well as impacting on the work of those documenting human rights violations, and access to essential and emergency services.
In a similar development, Open Source Intel, a global news intelligence network has requested anyone in Iran using Starlink, to try enabling the “Use Starlink positioning exclusively” option under Advanced and then Debug Data in the Starlink app to see if it helps bypass the reported signal jamming.