Children and adolescents, as one of the most vulnerable segments of society, require specialized and targeted legal and social protections. Victimization of this population not only generates profound and often irreparable consequences for the individual but also produces significant social repercussions, affecting community structures and future development. Accordingly, the engagement of the criminal justice system with children and adolescents—considering their unique developmental, psychological, and social characteristics—demands differentiated, protective, and rehabilitative measures fully aligned with international legal instruments, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Such an approach emphasizes adapting judicial, investigative, and enforcement processes to the developmental needs of minors, prioritizing their safety, welfare, and holistic rehabilitation.
In Iran, the Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents (1399 [2020]) represents a substantial legislative advancement, establishing a coherent and differentiated framework for the protection of child and adolescent victims. This legal development necessitates detailed examination to assess both conceptual foundations and practical efficacy. The present study employs a qualitative, descriptive–analytical methodology, drawing on library-based research and online sources, to investigate the principles, sources, and operationalization of differentiated and supportive criminal proceedings for child and adolescent victims within the Iranian legal system.
Findings indicate that, despite legislative progress, the absence of effective enforcement mechanisms and specialized institutional structures constitutes a primary obstacle to the practical realization of child protection objectives. In the absence of these institutional and procedural safeguards, the criminal justice system remains insufficiently equipped to fulfill the legislature’s protective and rehabilitative aims. The study proposes actionable recommendations to strengthen the implementation of differentiated and supportive criminal justice mechanisms, including enhancing specialized institutional capacity, improving procedural guidelines, and ensuring continuous monitoring and evaluation. These measures aim to bridge the gap between statutory provisions and practical enforcement, thereby advancing the rights, protections, and welfare of child and adolescent victims.