E/C.12/IRN/CO /2 18. The Committee is concerned that the minimum age for marriage, namely 13 years for girls and 15 years for boys, is inconsistent with the requirement under the Covenant that marriage be entered into only with the free consent of the intending spouses (art. 10). The Committee calls on the State party to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 years for both boys and girls, and to ensure that marriage can be entered into only with the free consent of the intending spouses. 19. The Committee is concerned that a very high number of children are living and/or working in the street, in particular in Tehran, Isfahan, Mashdad and Shiraz, and that these children have limited access to health services and education (art. 10). The Committee recommends that the State party take urgent and effective steps to address the very high number of children living and/or working in the street, address the root causes of the phenomenon, and provide all street children with access to health services and education. 20. The Committee is concerned that child labour is prevalent, in particular in rural areas, including in carpet weaving and other traditional family businesses . The Committee is concerned that domestic legislation does not consistently determine the minimum age for employment, and that child labour is permitted in agriculture, domestic service, and some small businesses. The Committee is also concerned that child labour legislation is ineffectively and inadequately monitored and enforced (art. 10). The Committee recommends that the State party take steps to strengthen its national legislation prohibiting child labour in accordance with international standards, in all sectors, including in agriculture, domestic service, and clay/brickmaking. The Committee also recommends that the State party ensure that the implementation of legislation pertaining to child labour is effectively monitored and enforced, including through labour inspections in agriculture and the informal sector, ensuring that employers exploiting child labour are held accountable and that victims of child labour are rehabilitated and are ensured access to education. The Committee recommends that the State party undertake awareness -raising campaigns with a view to eradicating child labour. 21. The Committee is concerned that, despite significant progress achieved in reducing extreme poverty, certain underdeveloped regions, including Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan and Kordestan, continue to show high levels of p overty (art. 11). The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary steps to further reduce poverty and extreme poverty, in particular in provinces populated by ethnic minorities, such as Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan and Kordestan. The Committee requests the State party to include in its next periodic report disaggregated and comparative data, by year and province, on the number of men and women living in poverty and extreme poverty. 22. The Committee is concerned that many families remain without a formal ownership title over their house and land, in particular in rural areas. It is also concerned that interpretations of article 49 of the Constitution have led to cases of arbitrary property confiscations (art. 11). The Committee recommends that the State party take steps to ensure that ownership of houses and land, in particular in rural areas, is formally registered, and that the State party actively raise awareness among affected groups of the population, including through the dissemination of knowledge, on relevant legal provisions and registry procedures. It recommends that the State party take steps to prevent arbitrary interpretations of article 49 of the Constitution, and to ensure that persons affected by such confiscations have access to an adequate remedy, restitution of their 5

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