Concluding Observation Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/IRN/CO/3-4 para
60c
Full Recommendation:
Ensure that those responsible for the approval of forced and child marriage, including judges,
parents, guardians, and religious or traditional leaders, are held accountable.
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
The law in the Islamic Republic of Iran (“Iran”) continues to permit child marriage by stipulating
that the legal minimum age for marriage is 13 years old for girls and 15 years old for boys.2
However, children who have reached puberty can marry with parental consent and court
approval.3 In Iran, the predefined age of puberty and the age of legal majority is 9 years old for
girls and 15 years old for boys.4 Marriage before a child reaches puberty is criminalized in
accordance with Article 50 of the Family Protection Act5 and is punishable under Article 646 of
the Islamic Penal Code of 2013.6
Child marriage is a significant issue within Iran. 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 years old, including 209 marriages involving girls under the age of
11.7 However, the number is likely to be higher as many child marriages are unregistered.8
During its last Universal Periodic Review (“UPR”) in November 2019, the Government of Iran
stated that a bill entitled “Protection, Dignity and Security of Women against Violence” would
be “aimed at criminalizing new forms of assault, harassment and violations of the rights of
1
CCPR.23.2.S.1., CCPT.23.3.S.1; CCPR.23.3.P.1., CCPR.23.2.P.1; CCPR.23.3.O.1., CCPR.23.4.O.1.
Article 1041 of the Civil Code as amended up until December 2000, NGO Impact Iran Coalition, Joint Submission to the
Committee on the Rights of the Child, 2016,
<https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CRC/Shared%20Documents/IRN/INT_CRC_NGO_IRN_19809_E.pdf >
3
Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, <https://iranhrdc.org/wpcontent/uploads/pdf_en/LegalCom/Womens_Rights_Commentary_389929723.pdf >
4
Article 146 and 147 of the Islamic Penal Code: <https://shenasname.ir/subjects/salamat/1571-mojazat92 >
5
The Family Protection Law, adopted on Feb 19, 2013: <https://shenasname.ir/subjects/family/1470 >; Universal Periodic
Review, Iran, 2019, <https://undocs.org/A/HRC/43/12 >
6
Islamic Penal Code: <https://shenasname.ir/subjects/salamat/1571-mojazat92>
7
Report of the Secretary General, Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020, para 37
<https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IR/Report_of_the_SecretaryGeneral_on_the_situation_of_human_rights_in_the_Islamic_Republic_of_IranA4320.pdf> and See
<www.sabteahval.ir/avej/tab-1499.aspx > (in Farsi)
8
Report of the Secretary General, Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020, para 37
<https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IR/Report_of_the_SecretaryGeneral_on_the_situation_of_human_rights_in_the_Islamic_Republic_of_IranA4320.pdf >
2
1