Who We Are

Child Rights Activists in Iran (CRAII) is a voluntary, social collective of activists inside and outside Iran. We are independent human rights defenders and part of Iran’s civil society, united by a deep commitment to the right to childhood.

Since 2000, we have fearlessly championed the cause of children’s rights — undeterred by the challenges we face. In response to the political conditions in Iran and beyond, we have chosen to engage with society, collaborate with social movements, and extend our hand to all those who honor the sacred right to childhood.

CRAII brings together individuals and grassroots groups who freely and independently advocate for children’s rights. Rooted in decades of struggle against discrimination and inequality, we act under the slogan: “Abolish Child Labor — Today”, and we prioritize the fundamental rights and best interests of children in all areas of life.

Childhood does not repeat itself — and the right to childhood must be recognized today.

“A World That Deserves Children Surely Deserves Us All.”

Our Mission

We are driven by the unwavering pursuit of justice to eradicate inequality and the exploitation of human beings. We firmly assert that the well-being of children, representing one-third of the world’s population, takes precedence over any divisive factors, whether political, economic, cultural, racial, national, religious, ideological, gender-based, or otherwise. Defending the right to childhood is inseparable from the broader fight for human dignity and social justice.

Our Principles

Our dedication to children’s rights comes from years of shared experience and political struggle, and from the ongoing effort to challenge systems that deny children a real childhood. The principles below are rooted in that commitment:

1. Children’s rights take precedence over all political, economic, social, cultural, or strategic considerations.
2. The right to childhood is grounded in the needs and best interests of children — survival, development, participation, and protection — and cannot be reduced to or dependent upon any law, convention, or treaty.
3. Childhood is a unique and fleeting stage of life, defined by joy, play, companionship with peers, and the right to enjoy life and social progress.
4. The right to childhood is universal — it knows no borders, and must not be delayed or interrupted by geography or politics.
5. The right to childhood transcends race, nationality, gender, religion, culture, and class — it belongs to every child equally.
6. CRAII’s vision and programs are shaped by the lived realities of children. Our work begins with the urgent call: Abolish Child Labor — Today.
7. We believe that “childhood is a chance that never comes twice.” That belief compels us to act without delay.
8. The abolition of child labor is both possible and necessary today. It is enabled by the world’s material capacity for wealth and well-being, the will of the majority, and global solidarity.
9. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first global achievement of the child rights movement and forms the basis of our demands toward governments and international organizations. At the same time, CRAII is committed to advancing it toward its fullest and most universal realization.