Iranian Society for Defending Street and Labour Children
The Iranian Society for Defending Street and Labour Children (ISDSLC) is a non-governmental organisation of human rights defenders, activists, and volunteers in the field of children’s rights. Starting in 2000, the founders of ISDSLC became involved in practical and direct work with children, with a special focus on children on the street and child labour. In 2002, after two years of research and activity with children, they decided to operate independently and established ISDSLC. Since receiving permission for operations from the ministry of interior in 2002, the ISDSLC has been successfully supporting vulnerable children, However, in April 2017, ISDSLC’s office in south Tehran, where they provided protection facilities and education for Afghan refugee children, was shut down by the security police.
Hope for political reform in Iran surfaced when President Hassan Rouhani assumed office in 2013 and dozens of opposition political figures and human rights defenders were released. However, violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and movement of HRDs continue to be prevalent.
Human rights defenders and journalists are arrested, detained and prosecuted in unfair trials. HRDs continue to receive death threats and are subjected to harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention. They are refused bail or receive extreme bail conditions. HRDs are additionally subjected to systematic surveillance and their family members are targeted. Journalists have been subjected to flogging for criticising the government.
