CFN: It is good to have you here with us, Karim Shahmohamadi. Children First Now in its recent session
 elected you as Secretary for the organization. We want to congratulate you and we would also like you to explain to our readers the reason for this change and what your future plans are.

Karim Shahmohamadi: Thank you for having me here and giving me a chance to explain a few things.
I personally appreciate Homa Arjmand for all the effort she made for Children First Now up to now. Besides all the other activities she had, she succeeded to push CFN a few steps forward. She was not satisfied with the work she was making here and was clear with all other activities she could not put aside enough time for it. After a few letters back and forth between us, she made the decision to resign. We received her official resignation by letter. We are not very happy about this decision, but any how we have to continue and wish her all the best with her other activities.

“Children First Now” discussed about its plans and the new secretary.  I became elected as secratary. We try to use all means to inform public about our activities and future plans. We still believe children need our voice to be heard by millions throughout the world which can result a change in children’s life. We recognize the necessities and responsibilities upon us to push governments around the world to improve the lives of children to an accepted standard.

CFN: In recent years, the defense of Children’s rights movement has improved not only a huge amount but it also has set forward radical demands and slogans in right direction in Iran. What is your opinion about all these?

Karim Shahmohamadi: As you mentioned, “in defense of the Children’s rights movement” has been proposed in a wide range in Iran. I have to add that in recent years this movement has obtained specific characteristics, as you mentioned, through radical demands and slogans. By looking a little closer, we find the Children First Now (CFN) manifestation has its footsteps in all these. It also has been done in a larger and more general movement which is called Freedom and Equality movement in Iran. Children’s Rights movement is growing in back ground of this movement. Islamic Republic of Iran even can not deny that and fight it back as severely as they can. By looking in other branches of the same movement like women and youth movements we are facing with similar trend and general goals. In cooperation with each other “in defense of children’s rights movement” has succeeded to label its own radical and humane flag on them as well. In my opinion this movement is becoming one of backbone of the Freedom and Equality movement in Iran.

CFN: In your opinion what can be done to spread children’s rights further in all the aspects of social life?

Karim Shahmaohamadi: Without any doubt, the roles of a progressive element can make a great difference in this movement. The leaders should put forward much greater efforts and at the same time quantity wise become more people.

The movement can play a greater role in social protests by planning and programming different events. This movement grows in privation, constant degrading and hardship for the majority of Iranian people. Who can’t see the children’s deplorable and regrettable situation on the streets and work places in Iran? Our protests can be spread out further through out Iran with coordinated plan.  This can provide children’s welfare and fight back those who take it from them and leave poverty and misery for them instead. The movement should also bring child labor to the public eye, and also to an end once for all. It should also be able to stop all sorts of prosecutions against children by institutions or individuals.  I believe this movement has a lot of potential. We can bring people to streets in defense of children’s rights in scale of millions. CFN does not spare any time and effort side by side by others to make this a near reality!

CFN: Tank you Karim Shahmohamdai. 

          05 February, 2007