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