According to Hana’s research, energy imbalance and frequent power outages in Kurdistan’s cities have turned into a crisis, significantly affecting citizens’ right to a minimal standard of living in accordance with global standards. These outages, which occur for extended hours throughout the day and night, have disrupted the daily lives of residents.
One of the most significant consequences of the increasing power cuts is the impact on children’s right to education. Over the past months, schools in cities such as Bukan, Sanandaj, Saqqez, Baneh, Piranshahr, and Mariwan have been unable to continue their educational activities due to electricity shortages, often leading to closures. In some areas, these closures have persisted for prolonged periods, depriving students of their fundamental right to education and disrupting their academic progress. Internal research also indicates a sharp decline in students’ proficiency in subjects such as mathematics as a result of these disruptions.
Beyond the deprivation of children’s education, the energy crisis has severely impacted various sectors and disrupted the social and economic life of residents. Many small and medium-sized businesses have shut down due to a lack of electricity, and, unable to repay their loans and debts, they have faced bankruptcy.
Another critical impact of the government’s failure to provide energy is the disruption of healthcare services. Hospitals and medical centers have struggled to operate due to a lack of sufficient energy resources.
Energy provision is a fundamental governmental duty and is among the most basic responsibilities of any state. Furthermore, Iran is a signatory to the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. According to this treaty, the Islamic Republic of Iran is obligated to take positive measures to ensure its citizens can enjoy a dignified life.
Hana Human Rights Organization expresses deep concern over the worsening living conditions of citizens in various cities of Kurdistan, as well as the increasing poverty and unemployment in the region. The organization emphasizes that the Islamic Republic of Iran has so blatantly violated the fundamental freedoms and rights of citizens in Kurdistan that other aspects of human rights—such as economic and social rights—have been largely neglected. One of the most significant violations is the denial of the right to social security, which has left a considerable number of Kurdish citizens without adequate protection.