TEHRAN - The Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) has issued a statement inviting international bodies to not remain silent in the face of the U.S.-Israeli military attacks on schools and educational centers in Iran.

The 63rd Bologna Children's Book Fair is set to take place in Italy in late April. In light of this, the IIDCYA has sent a letter to the secretariat of the literary event, as well as the secretariat of the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), requesting a response to the attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime on schools and educational centers, Mehr reported.

The full text of the IIDCYA's statement is as follows:

“The IIDCYA, as an institution that has dedicated six decades to the intellectual, cultural, and artistic growth of Iranian children and young adults, issues this statement with a heart full of sorrow and deep concern for the future of the children of this land. Today, as Iranian children and young adults face serious threats and military attacks, we cannot remain silent in the face of this suffering and anxiety. Children, adolescents, and students are not only among the most vulnerable groups in any military conflict, but they also represent the future, hope, and peace. The attacks by the Zionist regime and the U.S. on schools, educational centers, and residential areas where children live and study are a clear violation of all international laws and human rights, and an inseparable part of the crime being committed against the future of humanity”.

“We believe that children in war are not perpetrators, but innocent victims who must be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation under all circumstances. International conventions clearly stipulate that children's rights, including the right to education, the right to security, and the right to a healthy life, must be given serious consideration in normal times and in times of crisis. The international community, especially specialized children's rights institutions, has a responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of children everywhere in the world”.

“Therefore, we invite the international bodies responsible for children's rights to not remain silent in the face of this crime, to adopt a firm and practical stance, and to protect children from all forms of violence by issuing an immediate statement of condemnation. We urge them to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into the situation of children in conflict zones, to ensure that attacks on schools and educational centers are immediately halted, and to play their role in preserving the future of children by actively supporting the reconstruction of destroyed educational infrastructure. We believe that the peace and security of children are the guarantors of a healthy and developed society's future, and no human being will remain indifferent to the violation of children's rights”.

“Wishing peace and security for all the children of the world”.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel initiated a major, unjustified assault on Iran, resulting in the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and numerous senior officials, along with many civilians, among them women and children.

On the first day of the attacks, the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, Hormozgan Province, became the site of a devastating massacre. While dozens of girls and boys aged between 7 and 12 were beginning their lessons, the school was targeted by a missile strike that caused the building to collapse, trapping children and teachers beneath the rubble. Iranian authorities confirmed a final death toll of 185 people, with about 100 others wounded.

The attacks prompted a swift response from the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), with missile and drone launches targeting Israel and several U.S. bases in the region, occurring less than two hours after the strikes, which have been intensified in recent days.

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