Social Networks: A Way to Realise Human Rights Demands

Social networks provide new opportunities for civil society so that they can promote the social demands to reach better human conditions and improvement of human rights. Since based on the widespread research of social networks and people’s trust in them increases on a daily basis, through the use of these tools important steps can be taken towards the realisation of human rights and human demands in Iran. For those in Iran who have human rights concerns, this is an opportunity for human rights education and promotion.

Furthermore, the effects even more than usual pursuits and communications, will force relevant authorities to be accountable and investigate conditions. The example of this happening can clearly be seen in the story about a teacher in a village in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.
Following the publication of a report entitled “Perilous River Crossing of Schoolchildren on a Steel Cable Line” in the media, the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Education and Training General Office issued a statement saying that due to having nomads that are located on different parts of the mountains in this province, there is a need for more infrastructure facilities in the field of education and training.

Nesakooh village is one of the sparsely populated villages which is situated between Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Kohgilooyeh and Booyrahmad Provinces, where a river sets the boundaries between the two provinces. But the residents of this village are a few nomadic families who have settled down on the other side of the river in two separate locations.
Altogether there are four schoolchildren in this two-part village, two of which cross the river on an old bridge and or cross the river through a four kilometre walk to school, and the other two children are further away from the bridge and instead of crossing the river on the bridge, they go through a shortcut and by using a makeshift steel cable pulley crossing system crossed the river.

Regarding this province, the Education and Training Minister stated that following getting informed of the matter, necessary measures were taken. Another teacher was sent for the two mentioned schoolchildren and also steps are being taken to put in place a prefabricated school on a temporary basis until a suitable schools is built in the village with the help of charitable individuals, and until a new bridge is built by the relevant authorities, the steel cable system was modified to be much safer. It must be said that over the last two years teachers were dispatched to 10 sparsely populated villages.
To send teachers on a permanent basis for these villages there is a need to create minimum facilities and infrastructures such as bridges, roads, schools, electricity, water etc. so that education measures and their continuation is facilitated.

To draw charitable assistance, the village teacher also took filmed and took pictures along with news about the schoolchildren of this village and posted them on social networks, an action which seemed beneficial and helpful for better measures for the children, and the province’s Education and Training Department’s response towards the publication of the clip shows the positive effect that social networks have on the promotion of people’s rights.

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