Footnotes
[1] Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary, 2007, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/autism (accessed April 27, 2013); The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition, 2005, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ autism (accessed April 27, 2013).
[2] “Cerebral palsy,” Collins English Dictionary: Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition, 2009, http://dictionary.reference.com/ browse/Cerebral+Palsy (accessed April 6, 2013); The American Heritage Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, 2002, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Cerebral+Palsy (accessed April 26, 2013).
[3] “Down’s syndrome,” MedLine Plus, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/downsyndrome.html (accessed April 6, 2013).
[4] “Iran: Flawed Convictions for Journalists, Human Rights Watch,” Human Rights Watch news release, May 3, 2016, https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/03/iran-flawed-convictions-journalists.
[5] The Iran Statistics Center decided to remove all disability-related questions from the 2016 census questionnaires, claiming a lack of adequate financial resources. Hossein Nahvinezhad, Rehabilitation Director of SWO, “Around two per cent of the society are disabled” (حدود دو درصد جامعه معلول هستند) Special News Debate, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting News Agency (IRIB) December 4, 2016, http://www.iribnews.ir/fa/news/1405196/ (accessed July 24, 2017). Official website of the Iran Statistics Center (درگاه ملی مرکز آمار ایران) National Census of Individuals and Housing, general outcome, 2016 (1395 in Persian calendar), https://www.amar.org.ir/سرشماری-عمومی-نفوس-و-مسکن/نتایج-سرشماری/نتایج-کلی-سرشماری-1395 (accessed June 10, 2017); and “Detailed results of 1395 individuals and housing census” (نتایج تفصیلی سرشماری نفوس و مسکن 1395) Iran Statistics Center, https://www.amar.org.ir/سرشماری-عمومی-نفوس-و-مسکن/نتایج-سرشماری/نتایج-تفصیلی-سرشماری-1395 (accessed July 21, 2017).
[6] The SWO reported 1.3 million people with disabilities registered with the organization. Roughly 565,000 war veterans with disabilities were registered with FMVA. A small number of persons with disabilities, roughly 7,500, are under coverage of the Imam Khomeini Relief Center (IKRC). UN CRPD Committee, Replies of Islamic Republic of Iran to the List of Issues, January 13, 2017, CRPD/C/IRN/Q/1/Add.1, paras. 156-158, http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRPD%2fC%2fIRN%2fQ%2f1%2fAdd.1&Lang=en (accessed February 15, 2017).
[7] Yahya Sokhangooie, then Deputy Director of SWO on Rehabilitation, interview with Jamejam Press, “Disabled persons statistics are not up-to-date,” (آمار معلولان به روز نیست), October 23, 2014, http://press.jamejamonline.ir/Newspreview/1691561724465684273 (accessed May 6, 2017).
[8] In 2014, Keivan Davatgaran, director of SWO’s “Disabled Persons Empowerment Office,” estimated the number of people with disabilities to be around 11 percent. “11 per cent of country’s population have some degrees of disability” [11 درصد جمعیت کشور دارای درجاتی از معلولیت هستند)، ] Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), November 10, 2014, http://www.isna.ir/news/93081909011/ (accessed April 18, 2017). Rasool Khezri, a member of Iran’s parliament and secretary of the parliamentary group for persons with disabilities, puts the number at 12 to 14 percent of the population. “Shocking number of 12 to 14 per cent of disabled persons in the country” (آمار تکاندهنده 12 تا 14 درصدی معلولان در کشور)، Khaneh Mellat News Agency, April 8, 2016, http://icana.netiran.ir/Fa/News/296467/ (accessed April 18, 2017).
[9] This figure refers to the adult population, aged 18 years and over, among the 59 countries surveyed. It ranges from 11.8 percent in higher income countries to 18 percent in lower income countries. World Health Organization (WHO), “World Report on Disability,” 2011, http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789240685215_eng.pdf (accessed July 21, 2017).
[10] Researcher interviews with Negar, social worker for persons with psychosocial disabilities, May 5, 2017; Mahin, a parent of a person with intellectual disability and disability advocate, December 6, 2016; and Mohammed, parent of a person with intellectual disability and disability advocate, December 6, 2016.
[11] “Cultural barriers deprive special students from education,” (مشکلات فرهنگی موجب محرومیت کودکان استثنایی از تحصیل میشود) Iran News Agency, February 3, 2015 http://www.irna.ir/rkhorasan/fa/News/81490703/
[12]Hossein Nahvinezhad, rehabilitation director of SWO, “Need to improve disability identification system in Ministry of Health” (ضرورت تقویت نظام شناسایی معلولیتها در وزارت بهداشت)، Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) February 19, 2017, http://www.isna.ir/news/95113021296/ (accessed June 29, 2017).
[13] “’It’s a Men’s Club’” Discrimination Against Women in Iran’s Job Market, Human Rights Watch,” May 25, 2017, https://www.hrw.org/report/2017/05/25/its-mens-club/discrimination-against-women-irans-job-market.
[14] Ali Akbar Sayari, deputy of Health affairs of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education: “23.6 percent of the 15 to 64- year-old population suffer from mental disorder (23.6 درصد جمعیت 15 تا 64 سال کشور از اختلال روانی رنج میبرند) Iran News Agency (IRNA) October 21, 2015, http://www.irna.ir/fa/News/81808077/ (accessed May 3, 2017).
[15] Hossein Nahvinezhad, rehabilitation director of SWO, addressing specialized meeting to evaluate SWO performance regarding people with “chronic mental disease,” official website of SWO Alborz province, October 22, 2017, http://alborz.behzisti.ir/Portal/home/?news/235053/264206/274662/ (accessed April 16, 2018).
[16] Rasool Khezri, Piranshahr representative in Iran’s Parliament (Majles), interview with Jamejam press, “Disabled persons statistics are not up-to-date,” (آمار معلولان به روز نیست), October 23, 2014, http://press.jamejamonline.ir/Newspreview/1691561724465684273 (accessed May 6, 2017).
[17] Comprehensive Law on Protecting the Rights of Disabled Persons, Islamic Consultative Assembly, Official Gazette, no. 17264, 1383 (2004), Art. 11, http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/94044.
[18] UN CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on Initial Report of Islamic Republic of Iran, adopted by the Committee on its 17th session, CRPD/C/IRN/CO/1, May 10, 2017, para. 58.
[19] National Yearbook on Statistics 1390 (2011), Iran Statistics Center, Results of the 1,390 Individuals and Housing Public Census, Tehran, https://www.amar.org.ir/خانه/صفحه-اصلی-فروشگاه-مجازي/ProdID/143 (accessed June 27, 2017).
[20] UN CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on Iran, para. 58.
[21] Shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution, the Revolution Council passed legislation to establish the SWO by dissolving and merging 16 governmental and non-governmental bodies, organizations and associations. The SWO was first placed under the Ministry of Health but was moved to then Ministry of Welfare and Social Security in 2004. The SWO currently lies under the Ministry of Cooperative, Labor, and Social Welfare; its mandate includes “fulfilling needs of persons with disabilities, older people, public child care systems, women heads of households, abandoned children, street children, children who subject to child abuse, women and girls who leave their families and have nowhere to live, and people who use drugs.” Official website of SWO, “Missions of the Organization,” (ماموریتهای سازمان) http://behzisti.ir/Modules/ShowFramework.aspx?TemporaryTempID=538 (accessed February 27, 2017).
[22] Hosein Nahvinejad, rehabilitation director of SWO, Special News Debate on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, broadcast by Iranian governmental television 2nd channel, December 3, 2016, http://www.monazereh.ir/images/Bank/Movie/Ejtemaie/95-09/11_vijeh_khabari_2230/01_vijeh_khabari_2230.mp4 (accessed September 22, 2017).
[23] The FMVA is “a public non-governmental organization,” which means it is independent from the executive power in financial and administrative affairs and receives funding directly from the national budget. It is not accountable to the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament). The head of the organization is officially a deputy of the president, but in practice the position is under supervision of the supreme leader. Official Website of the FMVA, Introducing the Foundation, http://www.isaar.ir/vsdgp,9eki5arjar!9pre5.4r.html (accessed September 22, 2017); and UN CRPD Committee, Replies of Islamic Republic of Iran to the List of Issues, January 13, 2017, CRPD/C/IRN/Q/1/Add.1, para. 158, http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRPD%2fC%2fIRN%2fQ%2f1%2fAdd.1&Lang=en (accessed February 15, 2017).
[24] CRPD, art. 33(1). See Law on Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (قانون تصویب کنوانسیون حقوق افراد دارای معلولیت)، adopted by Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament of Iran known as Majlis), December 3, 2008, http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/134833.
[25] Alireza Asadi, rehabilitation director of Welfare Organization Kerman provincial office, Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), January 28, 2018, http://kerman.isna.ir/default.aspx?NSID=5&SSLID=46&NID=56190 (accessed February 6, 2018).
[26] Hassan Hesami, rehabilitation director of the Social Welfare Organization in Ghazvin province, “Welfare Organization’s insufficient budget in disability field” (بودجه ناکافی بهزیستی در حوزه معلولان), Hamshahri, 20/9/1395, December 10, 2016, http://ostani.hamshahrilinks.org/Ostan/Iran/Qazvin/Contents/ (accessed March 28, 2017).
[27]Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[28] Researcher interviews with Hamed, man with physical disability, small town in northern Iran, November 11, 2016; Bahram, blind man, Karaj, May 11, 2017; Nasrin, blind woman, city in northern Iran, May 21, 2017; and Sajjad, man with physical disabilities, city in southeastern Iran, May 16, 2017.
[29] Researcher interview with Shahla, deaf woman, Tehran, November 29, 2016.
[30] Researcher interviews with Shahla, deaf woman, Tehran, November 29, 2016; Narges, mother of a deaf girl, Tehran, November 29, 2016; Sohrab, deaf man living in Tehran, April 17, 2017; Foroogh, hard of hearing woman living in a city south Iran, December 9, 2016.
[31] Researcher interview with Narges, mother of a deaf girl (Mahsa), November 29, 2016.
[32] Researcher interview with Sohrab, deaf man living in Tehran, April 17, 2017.
[33] Researcher interview with Akbar, father of a man with psychosocial disability living in Tehran suburban, May 5, 2017.
[34] Researcher interviews with Bahram, blind man living in Karaj, May 11, 2017 and Zohreh, blind woman living in Tehran, May 13, 2017.
[35] Researcher interview with Banafsheh, blind woman living in Tehran, May 6, 2017.
[36] Researcher interviews with Narges, mother of a deaf girl, Tehran, November 29, 2016; and Akbar, father of a man with psychosocial disability, Tehran suburb, May 5, 2017.
[37] Researcher interview with Ziba, woman with physical disability, Tehran, May 19, 2017.
[38] Researcher interview with Akbar, father of a man with psychosocial disability, Tehran suburb, May 5, 2017.
[39] Researcher interviews with Zeinab, woman with physical disabilities, city in southern Iran, November 21, 2016; Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016; Akbar, father of a man with psychosocial disability, Tehran suburb, May 5, 2017; and Yashar, man with physical disability, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[40] Researcher interview with Arezoo, Social Welfare Organization staff member, Tehran, March 29, 2017.
[41] CRPD, art. 19.
[42] Researcher interviews with Hamed, man with physical disability living in a small town northern Iran, November 11, 2016; Zeinab, woman with physical disability, a city south Iran, November 21, 2016; Hamid, man with physical disability, a city south Iran, November 22, 2016; Hassan, man with physical disability, Karaj, May 12, 2017; and Yashar, man with physical disability, a town south Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[43] UN CRPD Committee, Replies of Islamic Republic of Iran to the List of Issues, January 13, 2017, CRPD/C/IRN/Q/1/Add.1, para. 156, http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRPD%2fC%2fIRN%2fQ%2f1%2fAdd.1&Lang=en (accessed February 15, 2017).
[44] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[45] Researcher interview with Javad, disability rights advocate with physical disability, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[46] Researcher interview with Najmeh, mother of a 9-year-old girl with physical disabilities living in Tehran suburbs, March 30, 2017.
[47] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities living in Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[48] Farhad Mirzaie, Deputy Director of SWO in Zanjan province, official website of the SWO, 24/4/1396 (Jul 15, 2017) http://www.behzisti.ir/Portal/home/?news/235053/264207/265796/ (accessed March 7, 2018). All conversions are based on the exchange rate on May 15, 2017 when most of interviews were already conducted. On this day 1 USD was equal to 37,600 IrI: The information is extracted from this website: http://www.tgju.org/chart/price_dollar_rl/2
[49] Regulation No. 39706, adopted by Cabinet of Ministers, 28/3/1396 (June 18, 2017), http://cabinetoffice.ir/fa/news/2088/ (accessed June 15, 2018).
[50] Researcher interviews with Hamed, man with physical disability, a city north Iran, Nov. 11, 2016; Yashar, man with physical disability, a town south Tehran, May 15, 2017; Tahereh, woman with physical disability, a central city of Iran, May 28, 2017.
[51] Researcher interview with Yashar, man with physical disability, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[52] Researcher interview with Tahereh, woman with physical disability, city in central Iran, May 28, 2017.
[53] Researcher interview with Nader, man with physical disability, town near Tehran, May 18, 2017.
[54] Researcher interview with Hassan, man with physical disability, Karaj, May 12, 2017.
[55] Researcher interview with Alireza, man with physical disabilities, city in southern Iran, November 23, 2016
[56] Researcher interviews with Alireza, man with physical disabilities city in southern Iran, November 23, 2016; and Hamed, man with physical disability, small town in northern Iran, November 11, 2016.
[57] Hossein Nahvinezhad, rehabilitation director of SWO, interview with Mizan News Agency, December 10, 2016, http://www.mizanonline.ir/fa/news/253819/ (accessed August 13, 2017).
[58] National Plan to Improve Health Care System (طرح تحول نظام سلامت) 1393 2014) http://nihr.tums.ac.ir/دیده-بانی-سلامت/طرح-تحول-نظام-سلامت/ (accessed May 3, 2017); and “Rouhanicare: Iranian President’s Unsung Domestic Success,” The Guardian, September 4, 2017 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/04/rouhanicare-iran-president-unsung-domestic-success-healthcare-hassan-rouhani (accessed April 16, 2018).
[59] “Employment the main challenge before disabled persons in Iran/ non-inclusion of rehabilitation services in the National Plan to Improve Health Care System” (اشتغال اصلیترین چالش معلولان ایران/ جای خالی خدمات توانبخشی در طرح تحول نظام سلامت), Mizan News Agency, 1395 (2016) http://www.mizanonline.ir/fa/news/158901/ (accessed May 3, 2017).
[60] “Bitter story of disabled persons ends by realization of the promise of the Minister of Health in the second phase of National Plan to Improve Health Care System” (در اجرای مرحله دوم طرح تحول سلامت صورت میگیرد: پایان قصه تلخ معلولان با تحقق وعده وزیر بهداشت) Fars News Agency, interview with Mohammad Ali Mohseni Bandpay, supreme consultant of the State Welfare Organization, 1395 (2016) http://www.farsnews.com/13950125001253 (accessed May 3, 2017).
[61] Mohammad Hossein Ghorbani, vice-president of the Parliamentarian Commission of Health and Treatment, interview with Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency, August 9, 2017, http://www.icana.ir/Fa/News/343953/ (accessed March 26, 2018).
[62] Researcher interview with Farideh, mother of a 7-year-old girl with physical disabilities, Tehran, May 24, 2017.
[63] Researcher interview with Najmeh, mother of a 9-year-old girl with physical disabilities, Tehran suburbs, March 30, 2017.
[64] Researcher interview with Arash, man with physical disability, city in eastern Iran, May 16, 2017.
[65] Researcher interview with Fariba, teacher working in special school for boys, a town north Iran, November 16, 2016.
[66] Researcher interviews with Mahnaz, woman with physical disability using crutches, city in southern Iran, November 22, 2016; and Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[67] For example, researcher interview with Farideh, mother of a 7-year-old girl with physical disabilities, Tehran, May 24, 2017.
[68] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[69] Seyed Vahid Shariat, a member of the National Mental Health Committee and head of “Iran Psychiatric Hospital,” Website of the Ministry of Health, Jan. 13, 2017 http://behdasht.gov.ir/?siteid=1&pageid=1508&newsview=156279 (last accessed May 3, 2017).
[70] Researcher interviews with Sara, woman with psychosocial disabilities, Mahdi, Jafar and Asghar, men with psychosocial disabilities, Tehran, January 16, 2017; and Farah, woman with psychosocial disability, Tehran, May 17, 2017.
[71] Researcher interview with Asghar, man with psychosocial disabilities, Tehran, January 16, 2017.
[72] Law to Protect Rights of Disabled Persons (قانون حمایت از حقوق معلولان) adopted by Islamic Consultative Assembly on March 10, 2018, published in Official Gazette No. 21303, May 3, 2018, http://www.hvm.ir/lawdetailnews.aspx?id=53257 (accessed May 28, 2018).
[73] Researcher interview with Ehsan, man with physical disabilities, town in western Iran, November 18, 2016; Homa, woman with physical disability, Tehran, November 20, 2016; Shahla, deaf woman, Tehran, November 29, 2016; Narges, mother of a deaf girl, Tehran, November 29, 2016; and Hassan, man with physical disability, Karaj, May 12, 2017.
[74] Kamali, M., “An Overview of the Situation of the Disabled in Iran,” in Advancing the Rights of Persons With Disabilities: A US-Iran Dialogue on Law, Policy and Advocacy (Allen Moore & Sarah Kornblet eds. 2011), p. 18.
[75] “SWO deputy: we need seventy thousand billion IRI to provide quality rehabilitation services” (معاون بهزیستی: برای ارائه خدمات توانبخشی مطلوب 70 هزار میلیارد ریال نیاز است)، Iran News Agency (IRNA), February 9, 2017 http://www.irna.ir/golestan/fa/News/82423473/ (accessed June 30, 2017).
[76] Researcher interviews with Homa, woman with physical disability, Tehran, November 20, 2016; Yashar, man with physical disability, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017; and Farideh, mother of a 7-year-old girl with physical disabilities, Tehran, May 24, 2017.
[77] Researcher interviews with Zeinab, woman with physical disability, city in southern Iran, November 21, 2016; Hamid, man with physical disability, city in southern Iran, November 22, 2016; Homa, woman with physical disability, Tehran, November 20, 2016; Yashar, man with physical disability, town in southern Tehran, May 15, 2017; and Farideh, mother of a 7-year-old girl with physical disabilities, Tehran, May 24, 2017.
[78] Researcher interviews with Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016; and Yashar, man with physical disability, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[79] Researcher interview with Zeinab, woman with physical disability, city in southern Iran, November 21, 2016.
[80] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[81] Researcher interviews with Hamed, man with physical disability, small town in northern Iran, November 11, 2016; Hassan, man with physical disabilities, Karaj, May 12, 2017; and Yashar, man with physical disabilities, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[81] Researcher interviews with Arash, man with physical disability, city in eastern Iran, May 16, 2017; and Nader, man with physical disability, town near Tehran, May 18, 2016.
[82] Researcher interview with Arash, man with physical disability, city in eastern Iran, May 16, 2017.
[83] Researcher interviews with Hamed, man with physical disability, small town in northern Iran, November 11, 2016; and Hassan, man with physical disabilities, Karaj, May 12, 2017;
[84] Researcher interview with Nader, man with physical disability, town near Tehran, May 18, 2017.
[85] Researcher interview with Hassan, man with physical disability, Karaj, May 12, 2017
[86] CRPD Convention, art. 28.
[87] Un CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on the Initial Report of Costa Rica, adopted by the Committee at its 11th session, 31 March–11 April 2014, CRPD/C/CRI/CO/1, para. 57; and Un CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on the Initial Report of Croatia, adopted by the Committee at its 13th session, 25 March-17 April 2018, CRPD/C/HRV/CO/1, para. 44.
[88] World Health Organization and World Bank, “World Report on Disability,” 2011, https://www.unicef.org/protection/World_report_on_disability_eng.pdf (accessed June 11, 2018).
[89] The pension is paid partly by SWO and partly under the national “Targeted Subsidy Plan.” Fariba Barimani, head of the Information Technology Center of the SWO, interview with Young Journalists Club, November 10, 2017, https://www.yjc.ir/fa/news/6315754/ (accessed March 15, 2018); and Anooshiravan Mohseni Bandpei, head of SWO, Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) March 17, 2018 https://www.isna.ir/news/96122614336/ (accessed March 19, 2018).
[90] UN CRPD Committee, Replies of Islamic Republic of Iran to the List of Issues, January 13, 2017, CRPD/C/IRN/Q/1/Add.1, para. 158. The pension received by national Social Security Organization pensioners was also equal to the minimum wage in the Persian year 1396. Taghi Noorbakhsh, head of national Social Security Organization, Iran Labour News Agency (ILNA), April 3, 2017, https://www.ilnanews.com/بخش-کارگری-9/474190-مستمری-سال-به-میزان-ونیم-درصد-افزایش-یافت (accessed May 8, 2018).
[91] UN CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on Iran, para. 52.
[92] UN CRPD Committee, Replies of Iran to the List of Issues, para. 156.
[93] Anooshiravan Mohseni Bandpei, head of the SWO, interview with Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), March 17, 2018, https://www.isna.ir/news/96122614336/ (accessed March 19, 2018). For national unemployment rate, see Omid Ali Parsa, deputy of the National Statistics Center, Islamic Republic of IranNews Channel, May 2, 2017 http://www.irinn.ir/fa/news/496586/ (accessed April 16, 2018).
[94] Anooshiravan Mohseni Bandpei, head of the SWO, addressing the Coordination Council of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Sistan and Baloochestan province, April 21, 2017, official website of SWO, http://www.behzisti.ir/Portal/home/?news/235053/235982/238041/ (accessed March 19, 2018).
[95] Researcher interviews with Arezoo, staff member of the State Welfare Organization, Tehran, March 29, 2017; Daryoush, blind man, city northern Iran, May 17, 2017; and Zohreh, blind woman, Tehran, May 13, 2017.
[96] Researcher interviews with Mahnaz, woman with physical disability, city in southern Iran, November 22, 2016; and Afsaneh, mother of Golnaz, a young girl with intellectual disability, Tehran, November 30, 2016. See also Hossein Nahvinezhad, rehabilitation director of SWO, interview with Tasnim News Agency, January 5, 2018, https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1396/10/15/1619936 (accessed March 19, 2018).
[97] Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, March 15, 2017, https://www.mcls.gov.ir/fa/news/76602/ (accessed March 19, 2018).
[98] Salman Khodadadi, the head of Parliamentary Social Commission, “With 9.3 million IRI as minimum wage, workers will still live under the poverty line,” March 15, 2017, Islamic Consultative News Agency (ICANA) http://www.icana.ir/Fa/News/327982/ (accessed April 16, 2018); and UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Concluding Observations on the Second Periodic Report of the Islamic Republic of Iran, fiftieth session, E/C.12/IRN/CO/2 June 10, 2013, para. 14, http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=E%2fC.12%2fIRN%2fCO%2f2&Lang=en
[99] “Details of the minimum living expense of the household” (جزئیات حداقل هزینه معیشت خانوار) Mehr News Agency, March 3, 2017 https://www.mehrnews.com/news/3921770/ (accessed March 19, 2018).
[100] Researcher interview with Hasan, man with physical disability, Karaj, May 12, 2017.
[101] Ibid.
[102] Law to Protect Rights of Disabled Persons (قانون حمایت از حقوق معلولان) Article 27.
[103] UN CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on Initial Report of Islamic Republic of Iran, adopted by the Committee on its 17th session, CRPD/C/IRN/CO/1, May 10, 2017, para. 8.
[104] See Government of Iran, Report Submitted by State Party Under Article 35 of the Convention to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, CRPD/C/IRN/1, July 8, 2015, paras. 36(a), 134, 135, 136; UN CRPD Committee, Replies of Iran to the List of Issues, paras. 3, 44, 75, 77.
[105] Charter on Citizenry Rights (منشور حقوق شهروندی) launched and signed by president Rohani, Congress on the Constitution and Nation’s Rights, December 19, 2016, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website, http://kazan.mfa.ir/uploads/متن_کامل_منشور_حقوق_شهروندی.pdf (accessed March 22, 2017).
[106] CRPD, art. 1.
[107] Comprehensive Law to Protect Rights of Disabled Persons, Islamic Consultative Assembly, Official Gazette, no. 17264, 1383 (2004). The disability legislation which came into force shortly before publication of this report essentially repeats the same definition in Article 1(a).
[108] “Persons with severe disabilities are covered by SWO,” (افراد با معلولیت شدید تحت پوشش بهزیستی قرار میگیرند) interview with Tasnim News Agency, December 18, 2016, https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1395/09/28/1270112/ (accessed September 21, 2017).
[109] Hosein Nahvinejad, rehabilitation director of SWO, news debate on International Day of Persons with Disabilities on the 2nd channel of Iran’s governmental television, December 3, 2016, http://www.monazereh.ir/images/Bank/Movie/Ejtemaie/95-09/11_vijeh_khabari_2230/01_vijeh_khabari_2230.mp4, (accessed September 22, 2017).
[110] Regulations on Establishment of the Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers for Persons with Chronic Mental Disorders (دستورالعمل شرایط و ضوابط اختصاصی مراکز توانبخشی و درمانی بیماران روانی مزمن) Article 1(1) adopted by SWO Council of Directors, Summer 2007, Website of the SWO Tehran provincial office, http://tehran.behzisti.ir/portal/file/?286877/دستورالعمل-روزانه-رواني-مزمن.pdf, (accessed July 17, 2017).
[111] Ali Akbar Sayari, deputy of Health affairs of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education: “23/6 percent of the 15 to 64-year-old population suffer from mental disorders (ایرنا: 23.6 درصد جمعیت 15 تا 64 سال کشور از اختلال روانی رنج میبرند) October 21, 2015, http://www.irna.ir/fa/News/81808077/ (accessed May 3, 2017).
[112] “Estimating existence of 200,000 chronic mental patients in the country,” (پیشبینی وجود 200000 بیمار روانی مزمن در کشور) interview with Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported by Public Relations and International Affairs Deputy of SWO, July 1, 2017, http://www.behzisti.ir/Portal/home/?news/235053/235987/263976/ (accessed July 22, 2017).
[113] Researcher interview with Farah, woman with psychosocial disability, May 17, 2017.
[114] Speech addressing a gathering to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Azad News Agency (ANA), December 7, 2015, http://www.ana.ir/news/70270 (accessed May 6, 2017).
[115] Researcher interview with Sohrab, deaf man living in Tehran, April 17, 2017.
[116] “Sixth National Plan for Economic, Social and Cultural Development” (برنامه ششم توسعه اقتصادی، اجتماعی و فرهنگی کشور)، adopted by Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) 14/12/1395 (March 5, 2017) Article 75, https://shenasname.ir/1391-09-30-20-01-30/tosee/plan6/3579-قانون-برنامه-ششم-توسعه-جمهوری-اسلامی-ایران.html (accessed July 11, 2017); Anooshiravan Mohseni Bandpei, head of SWO, Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), March 17, 2018 https://www.isna.ir/news/96122614336/ (accessed March 19, 2018).
[117] UN CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on Iran, para. 9.
[118] Researcher interview with Hassan, May 12, 2017.
[119] Researcher interviews with Ehsan, man with physical disability, small town in western Iran, November 18, 2016; and Mahnaz, woman with physical disability, a city in southern Iran, November 22, 2016.
[120] Researcher interviews with Davoud, blind man, Tehran, November 16, 2016; Ehsan, man with physical disability, town in western Iran, November 18, 2016; Mina, blind woman living, small city in central Iran, November 10, 2016; Homa, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, November 20, 2016; and Hamed, man with a physical disability, small town in northern Iran, November 11, 2016.
[121] Researcher interviews with Mahmood, blind man, city in southern Iran, November 9, 2016; and Bahram, blind man, Karaj, May 11, 2017.
[122] Shiva Shahmohammadi, “Tehran Traffic Woes & Urban Challenges,” August 9, 2015, https://financialtribune.com/articles/people/22995/tehran-traffic-woes-urban-challenges (accessed on August 10, 2017).
[123] The Business Year, “Moving Around: Iran 2011 Review of Transport,” https://www.thebusinessyear.com/iran-2011/moving-around/review (accessed on August 10, 2017).
[124] “Metro’s green track is dark for disabled persons,” (مسیر سبز مترو برای معلولان خاکستری است) Iran Newspaper, October 6, 2016, http://www.iran-newspaper.com/newspaper/BlockPrint/153525 (accessed July 14, 2017).
[125] Researcher interviews with Vajiheh, woman with physical disabilities, small city in central Iran, November 21, 2016; Hamed, man with physical disability, small city in northern Iran, November 11, 2016; Fatemeh, woman with physical disability, Tehran, December 5, 2016; Hamid, man with physical disability, city in southern Iran, November 22, 2016; Alireza, man with physical disability, city in southern Iran, November 23, 2016; Hassan, man with physical disability, Karaj, May 12, 2017; and Yashar, man with physical disabilities, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[126] Researcher interviews with Hamid, man with physical disabilities, city in southern Iran, November 22, 2016; and Yashar, man with physical disabilities, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017. The Disabled and War Veterans Transportation System provides some accessible transport services in Tehran, including 61 wheelchair-accessible vans available to 3,000 people with disabilities registered with the system. Saeed Zareh Zahrani, “Tehran Bus Company” (شرکت واحد اتوبوسرانی تهران) http://bus.tehran.ir/Default.aspx?tabid=204 (accessed April 18, 2017).
[127] Researcher interviews with Javad, man with physical disability and disability rights advocate, Tehran, December 5, 2016; Homa, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, November 20, 2016; and Mahnaz, woman with physical disability, a city in southern Iran, November 22, 2017.
[128] Researcher interviews with Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016 and Hassan, man with physical disabilities, Karaj, May 12, 2017.
[129] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disability, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[130] Researcher interview with Hassan, man with physical disabilities, Karaj, May 12, 2017.
[131] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disability, December 5, 2016.
[132] Researcher interview with Hassan, man with physical disabilities, Karaj, May 12, 2017.
[133] Researcher interviews with Hassan, man with physical disabilities, Karaj, May 12, 2017; and Yashar, man with physical disability, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[134] Researcher interview with Hassan, man with physical disabilities, Karaj, May 12, 2017.
[135] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[136] Researcher interview with Yashar, man with a physical disability, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[137] Accessible Metro Stations in Tehran, Accessibility database (ایستگاه‌های دسترس‌پذیر متروی تهران، بانک اطلاعات مناسبسازی) last updated 9/8/1395 (October 30, 2016) http://www.monasebsazi.com/metro/ (accessed May 2, 2018).
[138] Researcher interviews with Davoud, blind man, Tehran, November 16, 2016; Bahram, blind man, Karaj, May 11, 2017; and Laleh, blind woman, Tehran, May 24, 2017.
[139] Researcher interviews with Keivan, blind man, Tehran, May 12, 2017; Bahram, blind man, Karaj, May 11, 2017; and Laleh, blind woman, Tehran, May 24, 2017. BRT buses do not make undesignated stops.
[140] “Heartbreaking death of the female blind teacher in metro station” (مرگ دلخراش خانم معلم نابینا در ایستگاه مترو), Iran newspaper No. 4627, October 17, 2010, http://www.magiran.com/npview.asp?ID=2170523 (accessed February 27, 2017).
[141] “Falling of a blind person on the metro rail” (سقوط یک نابینا در چاله مترو” Iran Sepid Newspaper, January 28, 2014, http://www.iransepid.ir/News/2228.html (accessed July 14, 2017).
[142] “Metro’s green track is dark for disabled persons” (مسیر سبز مترو برای معلولان خاکستری است) Iran Newspaper, October 6, 2016, http://www.iran-newspaper.com/newspaper/BlockPrint/153525 (accessed July 14, 2017).
[143] Researcher interview with Keivan, blind man, Tehran, May 12, 2017.
[144] Researcher interview with Laleh, blind woman, Tehran, May 24, 2017.
[145] Researcher interviews with Laleh, blind woman, Tehran, May 24, 2017, and Keivan, blind man, Tehran, May 12, 2017.
[146] Researcher interview with Bahram, blind man, Karaj, May 11, 2017.
[147] Researcher interviews with Davoud, blind man, Tehran, November 16, 2016; Mahmood, blind man, city in southern Iran, November 9, 2016; Keivan, blind man, Tehran, May 12, 2017; and Laleh, blind woman, Tehran, May 24, 2017.
[148] Researcher interviews with Mahmood, blind man, city in southern Iran, November 9, 2016 and Bahram, blind man, Karaj, May 11, 2017.
[149] Researcher interviews with Mahmood, blind man, city in southern Iran, November 9, 2016; Bahram, blind man, Karaj, May 11, 2017; and Daryoush, blind man, city in northern Iran, May 17, 2017.
[150] Ebrahim Kazemi Momensarayi, Head of Secretariat of the National Accessibility Headquarters, interview with Mizan News Agency, December 11, 2016 http://www.mizanonline.ir/fa/news/253941/ (accessed June 16, 2017).
[151] Researcher interviews with Sohrab, deaf man, April 17, 2017; Shahla, deaf woman, Tehran, November 29, 2016; and Forough, hard of hearing woman, city in southern Iran, December 9, 2016.
[152] Researcher interview with Shahla, deaf woman, Tehran, November 29, 2016.
[153] Researcher interview with Sohrab, deaf man in Tehran, April 17, 2017.
[154] Researcher interviews with Ehsan, man with physical disability, small town in western Iran, November 18, 2016; and Hassan, man with physical disability, Karaj, May 12, 2017.
[155] Researcher interviews with Vajiheh, woman with physical disabilities, small city in central Iran, November 21, 2016; Hamed, man with physical disability, small city in northern Iran, November 11, 2016; Ehsan, man with physical disability, small town in western Iran, November 18, 2016; Fatemeh, a woman with physical disability, Tehran, December 5, 2016; Hamid, man with physical disability, city in southern Iran, November 22, 2016; Alireza, man with physical disability, a city in southern Iran, November 23, 2016; and Javad, disability advocate with a physical disability, December 5, 2016.
[156] Researcher interview with Ehsan, man with physical disability, small town in western Iran, November 18, 2016
[157] Researcher interview with Hamed, man with physical disability, small town in northern Iran, November 11, 2016.
[158] Researcher interview with Mansour, accessibility consultant and evaluator, June 13, 2017.
[159] Researcher interview with Hamed, man with physical disabilities, town in northern Iran, November 11, 2016; Nader, man with physical disability, town near Tehran, May 18, 2017.
[160] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disabilities, Tehran, December 5, 2016; and Yashar, man with physical disabilities, town near Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[161] Researcher interview with Yashar, man with physical disability, town in southern Tehran, May 15, 2017.
[162] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disability, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[163] Researcher interviews with Davoud, blind man, Tehran, November 16, 2016; Mahmood, blind man, city in southern Iran, November 9, 2016; and Mina, blind woman, small city in central Iran, November 10, 2016.
[164] Researcher interview with Mahmood, blind man, city in southern Iran, November 9, 2016.
[165] Researcher interviews with Zinat, woman with low vision, Tehran, March 29, 2017; Marzieh, woman with low vision, Tehran, November 16, 2016; Davoud, blind man, Tehran, November 16, 2016; Mahmood, blind man, city in southern Iran, November 9, 2016; and Banafsheh, blind woman, Tehran, May 6, 2017.
[166] Researcher interview with Banafsheh, blind woman, Tehran, May 6, 2017.
[167] “Book on Architecture and Urban Regulation for Physically Disabled People,” http://www.nezammohandesi.ir/uploads/zavabet-malolin.pdf (accessed May 3, 2018).
[168] UN CRPD Committee recommends that the Iranian government includes the principles of Universal Design in its legislation and promote its application by relevant stakeholders. UN CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on Initial Report of Islamic Republic of Iran, adopted by the Committee on its 17th session, CRPD/C/IRN/CO/1, May 10, 2017, para. 21. According to Article 2 of the CRPD, “Universal design means the design of products, environments, programs and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. “Universal design” shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed.”
[169] The Ministry of Interior serves as its head and the head of the SWO serves the head of the secretariat. See Article 8, Executive Regulation on the Implementation of Article Two of the Comprehensive Law on Protecting Disabled Persons, Ratification No. 31960, adopted by Cabinet of Ministers, May 30, 2005 http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/123284 and amended by Ratification No. 45515/ت45457ک adopted by Cabinet of Ministers, May 28, 2012 http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/811408. See also Article 1, Comprehensive Plan to Protect Disability Rights, Act No. 77303, adopted by Cabinet of Ministers, September 6, 2015, http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/936758.
[170] Ebrahim Kazemi Momensarayi, Head of Secretariat of the National accessibility Headquarters, interview with Mizan News Agency, December 11, 2016 http://www.mizanonline.ir/fa/news/253941/ (accessed June 16, 2017).
[171] Official website of SWO, Fourth meeting of the National Headquarters to Follow-up on Accessibility, June 21, 2017 http://www.behzisti.ir/Portal/home/?news/235053/235982/263070/ (accessed July 14, 2017).
[172] “Director of SWO Isfahan office: accessibility investigation of 80 government buildings commenced” (مدیرکل بهزیستی استان اصفهان: بررسی شاخص مناسبسازی ساختمان 80 دستگاه اداری استان اصفهان آغاز شد) http://www.behzisty-esfahan.ir/index.php/صفحه-اصلی/26-اخبار-سازمان/8313- (accessed June 15, 2017).
[173] Mohammad Bagher Safvat, Shiraz Mayor interview with Nehr News Agency: “Collaboration of disabled consultants in renovation of urban environment in Shiraz” (همکاری مشاوران معلول در بهسازی شهری شیراز”، February 18, 2013 http://www.mehrnews.com/news/1817461/ (accessed June 15, 2017); Fars province SWO website, http://www.behzisti-fars.ir/Portal/Show.aspx?Page=17187&NewsId=12835 (accessed June 15, 2017).
[174] Researcher interview with Pooya, blind man a city west Iran, May 11, 2017.
[175] UN CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on Iran, para. 20(D).
[176] Researcher interview with Javad, disability rights advocate with physical disability, December 5, 2016.
[177] Researcher interview with Ziba, woman with physical disability, Tehran, May 19, 2017.
[178] Anooshiravan Mohseni Bandpei, Head of SWO: “Mabar text message system started working” (سامانه پیامکی معبر راهاندازی شد) Tasnim News Agency, January 3, 2017 https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1395/10/14/1286646/ (accessed June 14, 2017).
[179] UN CRPD Committee, Concluding Observations on Iran, para. 20.
[180] Researcher interview with Vajiheh, woman with physical disabilities, small city in central Iran, November 21, 2016; Hamed, man with physical disability, small city in northern Iran, November 11, 2016; Ehsan, man with physical disability, small town in western Iran, November 18, 2016.
[181] CRPD, art. 25.
[182] UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Concluding observations on the combined third and fourth periodic reports of the Islamic Republic of Iran, CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para. 70, http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4&Lang=En
[183] Researcher interview with Vajiheh, woman with physical disabilities, small city in central Iran, November 21, 2016
[184] Researcher interview with Ehsan, man with physical disability, small town in western Iran, November 18, 2016.
[185] Researcher interview with Reihaneh, mother of a 14-year-old girl with intellectual disability, city in central Iran, November 17, 2016.
[186] Researcher interview with Saeid, man with physical disability, a city in eastern Iran, August 17, 2017.
[187] Researcher interview with Vajiheh, woman with physical disabilities, November 21, 2016.
[188] Researcher interview with Ziba, woman with physical disability, Tehran, May 19, 2017.
[189] Researcher interviews with Leila, woman with low vision, town in western Iran, November 22, 2016; Marzieh, woman with low vision, small city in northern Iran, November 16, 2016; and Mina, blind woman, a small city in central Iran, November 10, 2016.
[190] Researcher interviews with Leila, woman with disability living in a small town west Iran, November 22, 2016; Mina, blind woman, small city in central Iran, November 10, 2016; and Davood, blind man, Tehran, November 16, 2016.
[191] Researcher interview with Shahla, deaf woman, November 29, 2017.
[192] Researcher interview with Sohrab, deaf man, April 17, 2017.
[193] Researcher interview with Vajiheh, woman with physical disabilities, small city in central Iran, November 21, 2016.
[194] Researcher interview with Davood, blind man, Tehran, November 16, 2016.
[195] Researcher interview with Azam, mother of a girl with Down Syndrome (Shima), small town west Iran, November 30, 2016.
[196] Researcher interview with Jafar, man with psychosocial disability, January 16, 2017.
[197] Researcher interview with Arash, man with physical disability, city east Iran, May 16, 2017.
[198] Researcher interview with Azam, mother of a girl with Down Syndrome (Shima), small town west Iran, November 30, 2016; Nahid, mother of Shayan, boy with autism, Tehran, November 30, 2016.
[199] Researcher interview with Vajiheh, woman with physical disabilities, small city in central Iran, November 21, 2016.
[200] Researcher interview with Fatemeh, woman with physical disability, Tehran, December 5, 2016.
[201] Researcher interview with Shahla, deaf woman, Tehran, Nov. 29, 2016.
[202] Researcher interview with Roya, gynecologist, Tehran, March 25, 2017.
[203] Researcher interviews with Reihaneh, mother of a 14-year-old girl with intellectual disability, a city in central Iran, November 17, 2016; and Afsaneh, mother of Golnaz, a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome, Tehran, November 30, 2016;
[204] Researcher interview with Reihaneh, mother of a 14-year-old girl with intellectual disability, a city in central Iran, November 17, 2016.
[205] CRPD, art. 25.
[206] CRPD, arts. 17, 15 and 16.
[207] Human Rights Council, “Report of the special rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental health,” A/HRC/35/21, March 28, 2017, https://documents-ddsny.
un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G17/076/04/PDF/G1707604.pdf?OpenElement (accessed February 12, 2018), para. 63.
[208] Ibid., para. 64.
[209] Researcher interviews with Farhad, psychotherapist, Tehran, March 26, 2017; and Reza, psychiatrist practicing in Tehran and one other city in central Iran, November 28, 2016.
[210] Electroconvulsive therapy, also known as electroshock or ECT, is a controversial type of psychiatric shock therapy involving the induction of an artificial seizure in a patient by passing electricity through the brain. ECT is used to treat bipolar disorder and severe depression in cases where antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, or both have proven ineffective. See Human Rights Watch, Like a Death Sentence: Abuses against Persons with Mental Disabilities in Ghana, October 2012, http://www.hrw.org/reports/2012/10/02/death-sentence-0.
[211] Researcher interview with Hoda, social worker, Tehran, January 16, 2017.
[212] Researcher interview with Reza, psychiatrist practicing in Tehran and one other city in central Iran, November 28, 2016.
[213] Researcher interview with Farhad, psychotherapist, March 26, 2017.
[214] Researcher interviews with Sara, woman with psychosocial disabilities, and Mahdi, Jafar and Asghar, men with psychosocial disabilities, Tehran, January 16, 2017; and Farah, woman with psychosocial disabilities, Tehran, May 17, 2017.
[215] Researcher interview with Jafar, man with psychosocial disability, January 16, 2017.
[216] Researcher interview with Mahdi, man with psychosocial disabilities, January 16, 2017.
[217] Researcher interview with Soheila, advocate and expert on psychosocial disabilities, Tehran, January 16, 2017.
[218] Researcher interview with Mahdi, man with psychosocial disabilities, January 16, 2017.
[219] Researcher interview with Soheila, advocate and expert on psychosocial disabilities, Tehran, Jan. 16, 2017.
[220] Researcher interview with Jafar, man with psychosocial disability, January 16, 2017.
[221] Constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran (قانون اساسی جمهوری اسلامی ایران) 24 October 1979, (official translation) available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b56710.html (accessed 8 July 2017).
[222] “Comprehensive Law on Protecting Rights of Disabled Persons” (قانون جامع حمایت از حقوق معلولان) 2004.
[223] Executive Regulation on the Implementation of Article Two of the Comprehensive Law on Protecting Disabled Persons, Ratification No. 31960, adopted by Cabinet of Ministers, May 30, 2005 http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/123284 and amended by Ratification No. 45515/ت45457ک adopted by Cabinet of Ministers, May 28, 2012 http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/811408, art. 23.
[224] Ibid.
[225] Charter on Citizenry Rights (منشور حقوق شهروندی) .
[226] “Ratification on the implementation of Citizenry Rights Charter in Administrative System” (مصوبه در خصوص منشور حقوق شهروندی در نظام اداری) adopted by National Administrative Council, 1395 (2017) ratification No. 1127128, http://www.rrk.ir/Laws/ShowLaw.aspx?Code=13140 (accessed March 22, 2017).
[227] “Ratification on the implementation of Citizenry Rights Charter in Administrative System.”
[228] Law amending the “Law on Criminal Procedure”, (قانون اصلاح قانون آیین دادرسی کیفری) Islamic Consultative Assembly, 1394 (2015), art. 5 amending Art. 66, http://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/934354
[229] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), adopted December 16, 1966, G.A. Res. 2200A (XX1), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 52, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S. 171, entered into force March 23, 1976, ratified by Iran, June 24, 1975.
[230] International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, G.A. res. 2200A (XXI), U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), entered into force January 3, 1976, ratified by Iran, June 24, 1975.
[231] Convention on the Rights of the Child, G.A. res. 44/25, annex, 44 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 167, U.N. Doc. A/44/49 (1989), entered into force September 2, 1990, ratified by Iran, July 13, 1994.
[232] Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, G.A. Res. 61/106, Annex II, U.N. GAOR, 61st Sess., Supp. No. 49, at 80, U.N. Doc. A/61/49 (2006), entered into force May 3, 2008. The Optional Protocol creates a “Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities … to receive and consider communications from or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals subject to its jurisdiction who claim to be victims of a violation by that State Party of the provisions of the Convention.” Ibid., art. 1.
[234] Civil Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran (available in Farsi and English) Official Gazette, 1307 (1928 .
[235] UN CRPD Committee, Replies of Iran to the List of Issues, para. 1.
[236] CRPD, art. 2, para 3
[237] CRPD, art. 23.
[238] CRPD, art. 9, para 1.
[239] CRPD, art. 19.
[240] CRPD, preamble (J).
[241] CRPD, art, 19 (b).
[242] Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, General Comment no. 5 on Article 19: Living independently and Being Included in the Community, CRPD/C/18/1, paras. 28, 35, 56.
[243] CRPD, art. 25b.
[244] CRPD, art. 26, para 2.
[245] CRPD, art. 8, part a.
