parliament and the Guardian Council.8 During its last Universal Periodic Review (November 2019) the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that the Act on Protection, Dignity and Security of Women against Violence, currently under governmental review, will be “aimed at criminalizing new forms of assault, harassment and violations of the rights of women and adopting preventive and support measures to stop violence against women.”9 Reportedly, the bill would also include the prohibition of forced and early marriage for girls under 18.10 The bill has been under review since 201011 and is still under review as of February 2021.12 In January 2020, the U.N. Secretary General expressed concerns about the slow progress of the bill. The Secretary General also noted that “critical articles were reportedly removed from the initial proposal of the Executive, including provisions protecting women from various forms of violence and criminalizing domestic violence.”13 14 The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran also noted during its 2019 Universal Period Review that bills already drafted and currently going through the adoption process dealt with the prohibition of early marriage, although without specifying the age limitation. The Government added that it was raising awareness on the issue of child marriage in local communities.15 Between March 2018 and March 2019, the National Organization for Civil Registration reported over 30,000 marriages involving girls between the age of 10 and 14, including 209 marriages involving girls under the age of 11. 16 17 However, the number is likely to be higher as many child marriages are unregistered.18 In January 2020 the Secretary General highlighted that “the Government [of the Islamic Republic of Iran] expressed the view that setting the minimum age of marriage regardless of the cultural context would increase unregistered marriages.”19 Additionally, a large number of provisions under the Iranian Civil Code are discriminatory towards women. These provisions notably include the legal age of marriage,20 the share of inheritance,21 and the right to divorce.22 In marriage, the Civil Code provides rights to the 8 Information from Impact Iran Universal Periodic Review, Iran, 2019, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/43/12 10 Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights, Centre for Supporters of Human Rights and Minority Rights Group International September 2019, https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1203136/download ; Iran Newspaper, ‘Hamsari ke zendegi nemikonad amma mamnou’ol khorouj mikonad [A spouse who doesn’t live but bans me from leaving the country],’ 4 October 2015 11 Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights, Centre for Supporters of Human Rights and Minority Rights Group International September 2019 12 New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/world/middleeast/iran-sexual-violence-metoo-women.html 13 Report of the Secretary General, Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020 14 See https://en.radiofarda.com/a/new-watered-down-draft-law-on-violence-against-women-iniran/30173089.html; and www.isna.ir/news/98071612729/ (in Farsi). 15 Universal Periodic Review, Iran, 2019, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/43/12 16 Report of the Secretary General, Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020, para 37 17 See www.sabteahval.ir/avej/tab-1499.aspx (in Farsi) 18 Report of the Secretary General, Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020, para 37 19 Report of the Secretary General, Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020, para 37 20 Article 1041, Civil Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 21 Articles 861 to 948, Civil Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 22 Article 1133, Civil Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran 9

Select target paragraph3