Child labour is the exploitation of children through work that robs them of their childhood, denies them access to education, and exposes them to physical, mental, and emotional harm. Although it is widely prohibited by international law, it remains a persistent reality in many parts of the world.

In Iran, thousands of children are forced to work on the streets to survive. Many are controlled by organized networks that exploit their vulnerability, forcing them to sell goods, collect waste, or generate daily income under harsh conditions.

Street children face constant danger and abuse. They are exposed to violence, humiliation, extreme heat and cold, hunger, and in some cases sexual exploitation. These experiences leave deep physical, psychological, and emotional scars.

In recent years, the number of working children in Iran has continued to rise, turning the issue into one of the country’s most urgent and long-standing social challenges.

During the 2022 and 2026 protests in Iran, these children became even more vulnerable. Living and working in public spaces placed them directly in the path of unrest, exposing them to tear gas, pepper spray, fires, arrests, and the constant risk of disappearance.

Invisible to many, these children remain among the most unprotected members of society.