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, 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.”41 In January 2020, the U.N. Secretary General expressed concerns about the slow progress of the bill, which has been under review since 201042, and as of February 2021 is under the review of the Iranian Parliament.43 The draft bill will then need to be vetted by the Guardian Council. 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.”44 45 As of early February 2021, the available draft of the law46 suggests that the text may be insufficient to protect women in Iran from discrimination and violence. Even though the draft law may bring positive developments, it will remain limited by the Civil Code47, the Family Law48, and the Islamic Penal Code49, which contain provisions effectively discriminating against women and fails to protect them adequately from violence.50 In November 2019, the Islamic Republic of Iran rejected States’ UPR recommendations asking for the criminalization of domestic violence and marital rape.51 Structural discriminations deeply entrenched in the Iranian legal system ultimately translate to widespread discrimination against women, in all aspects of their lives.52 There are a several mechanisms where Iranian citizens can report violations of their rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Article 90 Commission of the parliament,53 or Oversight Bodies for the exercise of Citizenship Rights in the country's provincial courts.54 However and as aforementioned, gender discrimination is inherent to the Iranian legal framework. Consequently, there is little opportunity for one’s complaint in that matter to be adequately addressed and 41 Universal Periodic Review, Iran, 2019, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/43/12 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 43 New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/world/middleeast/iran-sexual-violence-metoo-women.html 44 Report of the Secretary General, Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IR/Report_of_the_SecretaryGeneral_on_the_situation_of_human_rights_in_the_Islamic_Republic_of_IranA4320.pdf 45 See Radio Farda https://en.radiofarda.com/a/new-watered-down-draft-law-on-violence-against-women-iniran/30173089.html ; and ISNA www.isna.ir/news/98071612729/ (in Farsi). 46 https://shenasname.ir/laws/7023 47 The Civil Code: < https://shenasname.ir/laws/6664 > 48 The Family Law: < https://shenasname.ir/subjects/family/1470 > 49 The Islamic Penal Code: <https://shenasname.ir/subjects/salamat/1571-mojazat92 > 50 This information is up-to-date and accurate as of early February 2021. For more up to date information on the passage of this bill, please click the following link: http://www.impactiran.org/vawbill 51 Recommendations 26.253, 26.254, Universal Periodic Review, Iran, 2019, https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/43/12/Add.1 52 See more: Minority Rights, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf 53 The Article 90 Commission was established to receive the citizens' complaints against government institutions and has the responsibility to review them and transmit cases for judicial procedure accordingly. 54 These committees have the responsibility to oversee the strict implementation of the "Law on Respect for Legitimate Freedoms and Civil Rights” 42 5