Iran protest crackdown kills dozens of children
Iran government's protest crackdown kills dozens of children, prompts calls for removal from United Nations.
Dozens of children have died during the Iranian government’s crackdown on protests across the country, prompting some to urge the United Nations to kick Iran from the global body.
Reports indicate that at least 700 people have died due to the Iran government’s crackdown, including dozens of children.
UNICEF issued a statement in which it reported that as many as 50 children may have died during the protests, but that the number could be as high as 65. Iran has periodically denied such actions.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is a party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and has an obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children to life, privacy, freedom of thought and peaceful assembly," UNICEF said in a statement last month.
Article 6 of the UN Charter, which states that "a member of the United Nations which has persistently violated the principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council."
UN Secretary General António Guterres spokesman Stéphane Dujarric added that Guterres "subscribes" to UNICEF’s message on the issue of child deaths in the protests, and he will "continue to speak out on these issues."
