We, the undersigned non-governmental organisations working in the fields of human rights, health, women, children and support for marginalised groups, express our deep concern and outrage at the recent military attacks by the Israeli regime on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. These attacks, which took place on the night of one of the most important religious holidays for Muslims, have not only resulted in the martyrdom of more than 500 civilians and injured hundreds more, but have particularly targeted young children, women and the elderly. Among the victims are the lifeless bodies of children aged 3, 9 and 11 — a clear indication of the blatant disregard for the principles of distinction and proportionality under international humanitarian law.

These attacks have also caused damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential areas, health centres and even a social facility for people with physical and mental disabilities in Qasr-e Shirin.[1] Such actions constitute gross violations of the fundamental principles of international law, including:

• Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter (prohibition of the use of force),
• The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols,
• Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (war crimes),
• The Convention on the Rights of the Child (Articles 6, 19, 24, 28, and 39),
• And the principle of the “best interests of the child.”[2]

The physical and psychological consequences of these attacks go far beyond physical injuries. Many survivors — especially women and children — now show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), toxic stress, complicated grief and collective trauma. Mental health experts have warned that children exposed to explosions, the death of their parents, displacement and high stress environments are at serious risk of long-term emotional, cognitive and social developmental disorders without immediate psychosocial intervention.[3]

In addition, for groups such as people living with HIV, haemophilia, thalassaemia, chronic lung and kidney diseases, older people with disabilities and children with special needs, the disruption of access to medicines and specialised care has posed a serious threat to their survival and quality of life.[4]

It is worth noting that among the victims of these attacks were young women — athletes, students and researchers — who were active in scientific and social fields and whose presence symbolised the civil vitality of Iran. This shows that the attacks targeted not only the security infrastructure, but also the intellectual, cultural and human foundations of society.

We express our deep sympathy with the families of the victims and call for an urgent, multi-level response from the international community:

• Unconditional condemnation of these acts by the UN Secretary-General, the Human Rights Council, UNICEF, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children;
• Launch impartial international investigations to document and register the crimes and claim Israel’s legal responsibility for these crimes;
• Activate mechanisms to provide immediate psychosocial support to children, women and vulnerable groups;
• Preventing further such attacks through serious diplomatic intervention and the use of legal and political pressure;
• Use the capacity of specialised international agencies to independently assess the impact of these attacks on the physical and mental health of the Iranian population.

We warn that the continued failure to respond to such atrocities undermines the foundations of human rights and institutionalises impunity for the perpetrators of crimes against civilians at the international level. Children and women must not be victims of political inaction. Protecting children, women, and vulnerable populations is not a choice — it is a moral, legal, and global obligation.

Respectfully,

Signed by non-governmental organizations active in human rights, health, psychology, and humanitarian support

1. Association for Protection of Refugee Women & Children
2. Iranian Elite Research Center
3. Sustainable Development Association
4. Payamavaran Hamyari (Chetra)
5. Peace Researchers Center
6. International Sustainable Development Group
7. Ostadh-e Sadatah Assembly of Mazandaran Province
8. International association of Justice Watch
9. Heaven Charity Center
10. Aab-o-Ayneh Charity Institute (Voice of Compassion)
11. Abshar Atefeha International Charity
12. Convergence World Institute (Top Nodes)
13. Veterans and Elders’ Sacrifice Society (KAP)
14. Iran Thalassemia Society
15. Ariana FardaSoye Hamyari Institute
16. Shams Al-Shamūs Charity Foundation
17. Nim Gaman Jamshid
18. Kindness Heaven Institute
19. Heaven of Imam Reza (AS)
20. Association of Iranian Jurists Defending Human Rights
21. North Izad Doustan Charity Institute
22. Stable Society of Supporters for Children and Mothers
23. Eternal Society of Iranian Judiciary Advocates (Javdan)
24. Iranian Autism Association
25. International Institute for Support Victims of Terrorism
26. Caspian Institute for Development Strategies and Peace
27. International Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development Research
28. International Foundation witnesses of Ashoora
29. Society of Sacrifice Advocates in the Iranian Judiciary
30. Rahiéh Azrooz (Salvation) Scholars Institute, Tehran
31. International Farda Development Activists Association
32. Nour Sepid Guidance Institute
33. Rahiéh Green Vision Society
34. Society of the people with disability in iran
35. National Network of NGOs for People with Physical-Mobility Disabilities
36. Rebirth Institute
37. Tehran Province Health Benefactors Assembly
38. Peace and Environment Center
39. Tehran Province Mental Health Support Network
40. Society of Mental Health Supporters
41. Society of Tears and Smiles Mental Health Supporters
42. Morning Hope Mental Health Support Society, Hekimateh
43. Tolou-e Sobhe Khorshid Institute
44. Tolou Bi-Neshanha Society
45. MehrAfarinane Rahián-e Salamat Institute
46. Institute for women’s studies and Research
47. Nikgam Jamshid Charity
48. Raad Alghadir Charity
49. Kodakan Charity
50. Sadat Foundation
51. Society for Recovery Support
52. Social Harm Prevention Foundation
53. Shams Charity
54. Ara Entrepreneurs Charity Insittute
55. Iranian Hemophilia Soceity
56. Iran Association of Social Worker
57. Behnam Daheshpour Charity
58. Song of Cheetah in Desert
59. Charitable Institute for the Protection of social Vicitms
60. Organisation for Defending Victims of Violence
61. Charity Foundation for Special Diseases
62. Reyhaneh al-Nabi Cultural Institute
63. Society for Support and Assistance of Social Victims
64. The Entrepreneurship Development Foundation for Women and Youth (EDF)
65. Vali-Asr Rehabilitation Institute
66. Zanjireh Omid International Charity Institute
67. Raad Kerman Educational and Charity Complex
68. Support Society for Children and Adolescents with Disabilities
69. The Iranian Disability Association of Tavana
70. Payvand e Gol-e Narges Charity Institute
71. Zahra’s (S) Children’s Charity Institute
72. Omid Farda Mental Health Institute
73. Yarigaran Zendegi Association
74. Support Society for Shariati Hospital Patients
75. Support Society for Patients and Farabi Hospital
76. Family health Assoication of Iran
77. Hamyaran-e Salamat-e Ravani Va-Fajr Masoudiyah Society
78. Pakdasht Mental Health Support Society
79. Navay-e Mehr Mental Health Support Society
80. Taranem Sabz Parvaz Institute
81. Raz Royesh Zendegi Institute
82. Sayeh Hamraz Farzanegan Institute
83. Amin Wisdom Seekers Institute
84. Kheradmanda (Wise Ones) Institute
85. Tolou Idea Iranian Institute
86. Hamrahan-e Masir-e Zendegi Institute
87. Mehr   House Mental Health Helpers’ Society
88. Avaye Mehr Damavand Mental Health Helpers Society
89. Movements of Guardians Institute
90. Pink Jasmine Women’s Mental Health Helpers
91. Mehrvarzan Fars Compassion Society
92. Social Harm Prevention Foundation
93. Mehrvarzan Charity of Rāhā’s Future
94. Reyhaneh Al-Nabi Health Supporters Society
95. The Iranian Association of Child Righs
96. The Iranian Association of Medical Law
97. Peace and Friendship Culture Promotion Society
98. Aftab Photographers Association
99. Tehran’s Liberation Scholars
100. Knowledge Foundation
101. Medical Ethics and Law Research Center
102. Sepas Foundation
103. Orphan Helpers Charity Organization
104. National Network of Charitable Institutions

1. Network of Organizations for the Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development of the Country

106. EB Home (NGO)
107. The Messengers of the Beautiful Mind NGO
108. Guilan Institute for Blood Donation and Health Promotion
109. Shamim Mehr Sobhan Charity
110. Motherhood Dream Center
111. Health Benefactors of Iran University of Medical Sciences
112. Charity Society Supporting the Disabled in the Country
113. Khademan Harim Velayat Charity organization
114. Rural Development and Deprived Areas Charitable Association
115. National Emergency Charity Forum
116. Health Charitable Trust of Tehran University of Medical Sciences
117. Patients Support Association and Sina Hospital
118. Patients Support Association and Baharlu Hospital
119. Patient Support Association and Amira Alam Hospital
120. Patient Support Association and Mofid Children’s Hospital
121. Patient Support Association and Mahdieh Hospital
122. Patient Support Association and Loghman Hospital
123. Patient Support Association and Imam Hussein Hospital
124. Patient Support Association and Soum Shaban Damavand Hospital
125. Patient Support Association and Taleghani Hospital
126. Patient Support Association and Rasoul Akram Hospital
127. Sobh Royesh Charity Organization
128. Secretariat of the National Jana Festival
129. Association of Charitable Organizations Helping the Life of the Country
130. Hamyaran Hogough Shahrvandi NGO (Civil Rights Supporters NGOs)
131. Green Afra NGO
132. Institute for Strategic Studies of International Law, Lawyers Center
133. Iranian quality improvement association
134. Hamoon Peace Institute
135. Successful Family Lovers Association
136. Network of Women’s Nongovernmental Organizations in the Islamic Republic of Iran
137. Comprehensive Center for Empowerment, Employment and Entrepreneurship of Women and Families
138. International Association of Women of Monotheistic Religions
139. Qadr Alavi Charity Foundation
140. Shahriar Environmentalists Association
141. Women’s Association Active in the Tourism Industry
142. Raz Zagros Socio-Cultural Development Association

[1] IRNA News Agency, April 2025 – Official report on casualties and damages caused by Israeli attacks on civilian areas in Isfahan, Tehran, and Markazi province.

[2] United Nations Charter, Article 2(4); Convention on the Rights of the Child, Articles 6, 19, 24, 28, 39; Rome Statute, Article 8.

[3] UNICEF (2023). “Psychosocial support for children in conflict zones.” Also: Save the Children (2022) report on the psychological impact of bombings on children in Gaza.

[4] WHO & UNAIDS Joint Statement (2022). “HIV treatment disruptions in conflict areas: public health risk.” Also: IFRC statement on people with special health conditions in wartime settings.