Hundreds of girls have been poisoned by gas in schools in over 15 cities in Iran. The Iranian government has refused to shut down schools to investigate the mass poisoning of girls and some reports shows the head mistresses have stopped girls from leaving school. So far the government has not done a thorough investigation to find out the root of these attacks or the physical harm it can cause, nor they have provided security for these schools to protect the students.

School girls have had a significant role in Woman Life Freedom movement and the recent women uprising in Iran. They became very vocal  demanding their basic rights and showed their discontent against compulsory hijab. The state cracked down on schools and beat many school girls inside the schools, and sent many to correction behaviour centres. Many of us believe the recent poisoning is in connection with the school girls activities against the state. The fact that the Iranian government has not taken any actions to protect the students implies their involvement with the mass poisoning. 

According to UNICEF 

Every child has rights, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) forms the basis for all our work, including our campaigning. As the only organisation working for children recognised by the Convention, we are passionate about protecting the rights of every child.

Articles 28 and 29 focus on a child’s right to an education and on the quality and content of education.  Article 28 says that “State Parties recognise the right of children to education” and “should take all appropriate measures to ensure that school discipline is administered in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity.

 UNICEF has the responsibility to keep ALL CHILDREN safe regardless of their gender, sex and religion. Iranian girls are not safe in the very place they are supposed to be kept safe, schools. The Iranian government has failed to protect them; therefore we are demanding UNICEF to step in and conduct a thorough and independent investigation on the nature of gas poisoning and the physical and psychological harm they can cause as well as finding out who is behind poisoning girls.