The attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, constitutes a grave crime and a flagrant violation of international law, said Salim Oweis, Communications Officer for the Middle East and North Africa at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The incident, which occurred on the first day of joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, killed more than 160 children, according to Iranian authorities.
In an interview with China Global Television Network, Oweis described the toll as "frightening", underscoring the severe and escalating violations of children's rights, including the targeting of schools and hospitals, during armed conflict.
"Unfortunately, this attack is one of the major incidents that occurred during the recent escalation of tensions, which reportedly claimed the lives of at least 168 children of this school. At the heart of the incident is children's rights, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. Disregard for these laws leads to such heavy losses, which killed more than 160 children in one attack. This is a frightening number, which calls for urgent action and protection of children. In recent years, we have witnessed an increase in grave violations of children's rights, including the killing and wounding of children, as well as the targeting of schools and hospitals, which are civilian infrastructure that children depend on and which must be safe," he said.
Oweis said that all parties to the conflict bear significant legal obligations to safeguard children, stressing that child protection must remain a non-negotiable priority in any armed confrontation.
"There is a significant legal responsibility on the warring parties, as international law stipulates the protection of children's rights and lives, particularly during wars and conflicts, when children are entitled to special protection under international law. This means that protecting children and keeping them away from places where they might be harmed are a priority. There is also the moral aspect. These laws exist to allow for a minimum level of humanity, even in times of war," he said.
The official pointed to the existence of multiple international mechanisms, which will hold perpetrators of crimes against children accountable during wartime.
"There are various mechanisms of the United Nations, including the Security Council and the Assistant Secretary-General for the issue of children affected by arms and armed conflict. All these laws and mechanisms exist to protect children and hold the perpetrators accountable. The roles of the UNICEF, the UN and humanitarian organizations are to advocate and appeal for the protection of children, to deliver aid to children so that they have the basic assistance and services they need, and also to submit reports to the responsible bodies, such as the Security Council, in order to hold those who violate these conventions accountable," said Oweis.
UNICEF officer condemns attack on girls' school in Iran
Li Yuhua, a farmer-turned forest ranger from a mountainous village in Dulongjiang Town, southwest China's Yunnan Province, has spent nine years protecting the forests in her hometown while helping local people increasing their incomes.
Li's family was once a registered impoverished household, relying mainly on corn farming for living. Things began to change for her family in 2016 when China launched a policy allowing registered impoverished population to work as ecological forest rangers, and Li became one of the first ecological forest rangers in the town.
"When I first began to work as a forest ranger, it was hard for me even to climb mountains, let alone climb rocks and cross rivers. But I told myself that since the country gave me this opportunity, I must do it well. I worked hard to improve my physical fitness and learn new skills, always actively taking the missions of patrolling mountains," said Li.
As Li often wears a colorful, vibrantly striped "Dulong blanket," a traditional clothing of the Dulong ethnic group, the villagers call her the "rainbow ranger."
"I think the name 'Rainbow Ranger' is beautiful. It makes me feel like a rainbow for us women of Dulong ethnic group guarding our homeland," Li said.
Dulong is a mountain-dwelling ethnic group in southwest China. It is one of the least populous of China's 56 ethnic groups, and the people were known for "direct transition" from primitive life to the modern socialist society at the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
Most Dulong people live in Dulongjiang Town, where an inhospitable mountainous terrain used to thwart the place's development for decades. The town remained to be one of the poorest areas in Yunnan Province and even in the entire country. Thanks to government inputs and the development of industries with local features, the Dulong people have been experiencing remarkable life changes. In 2018, the Dulong ethnic group shook off poverty as a whole.
Beyond safeguarding forests, Li took the lead in developing non-timber forest-based economy in the town, guiding local residents to grow plants like Chinese black cardamom and wild-simulated lingzhi mushrooms as well as raising cattle and bees.
In 2025, the total output value of the town's non-timber forest-based economy reached nearly 30 million yuan (around 4.3 million U.S. dollars), with the annual average income of 43 households increasing by more than 20,000 yuan (around 2,900 U.S. dollars) each.
Li also established a cooperative for Dulong blanket making, attracting more than 170 women to learn traditional weaving techniques. They have developed 12 types of cultural and creative products, including shawls and scarves, and sold them worldwide through livestreaming, generating wealth for themselves.
"In the past, we only wove blankets for our own use. Now she teaches us to make the cultural and creative products and sell them. Last year, I earned more than 4,000 yuan (around 580 U.S. dollars) from weaving. I spent the money on my children's school fees and new appliances for my house," said Mu Jianying, member of the cooperative.
Li's dedication to both forestry and rural revitalization has earned her widespread recognition. In 2024, she was honored as model of ethnic solidarity and progress and received the title certificate from President Xi Jinping. She was also awarded the title of National March 8 Red-Banner Pacesetter, the highest honor presented by the All-China Women's Federation to the country's outstanding women, ahead of the International Women's Day observed on March 8.
Li said her achievements are the result of collective efforts.
"I often think that one person's strength is very limited, but the strength of a group is great. There are 195 ecological forest rangers like me protecting this land in the Dulongjiang Grand Canyon," she said.
As a female forest ranger, Li shared a message for women ahead of the International Women's Day.
"To mark the International Women's Day, I want to say to all my sisters: No matter what position we are in, as long as we are willing to endure hardship and work hard, we will surely weave our own rainbow," she said.
Forest ranger dedicated to guarding green mountains in Yunnan
Forest ranger dedicated to guarding green mountains in Yunnan
