Rouhani Administration’s Program for Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is one of the painful phenomena in Iranian society that occurs beneath the surface of cities and away from the attention of officials and the scrutiny of media and civil institutions. Now there is talk of preparing a plan to prevent child sexual abuse in Tehran Province.

Siavash Shahriyar is the head of the social affairs office of Tehran Province’s governorship. In a report published by the ILNA news agency, he announces the preparation of a plan to prevent child sexual abuse in Tehran Province. The important point is that the preparation of this plan is considered the first action by the government in dealing with child sexual abuse.

The news of preparing a plan to prevent child sexual abuse in Tehran Province was announced at a specialized operational session on implementing the “Citizen Rights Charter” in the twelfth government. In this session, Elham Aminzadeh, a special assistant to Hassan Rouhani, also participated.

No further information about this plan has been released. Neither the details of the plan are clear nor the date of its approval and implementation. It is not even clear whether similar plans are envisioned for other provinces in the country or what programs officials have to address this painful phenomenon in Iranian society.

First Civil Institution for Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

Preventing child sexual abuse in Iran is one issue, and supporting and assisting abused children is another matter. The Islamic Republic has fallen short in both preventing child sexual abuse and assisting abused children.

Recently, a civil institution was launched to support abused children. This is the only civil institution operating in this field. The direction of this civil institution is led by Dr. Shahin Aliaizadeh. She, who is an Allameh University professor and psychologist, has established the “Institute for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse” in Tehran.

Dr. Aliaizadeh, in an interview with Deutsche Welle, addressed the subject of founding this institution. Regarding receiving assistance from government institutions, she told the “Deutsche Welle” correspondent: “The very important challenge was convincing stakeholders in society, which was admittedly exhausting. I was told that they would issue the license, but I should not expect any financial support. If there was a challenge, which was actually quite significant, it was in raising the issue and obtaining permission in previous years. Now that they see how sincerely I am working, they do not create obstacles. But our problem today is that stakeholders do not provide us with resources. I have many programs to implement but everything depends on my personal resources.”

Source: DW