age of 10 and 14, including 209 marriages involving girls under the age of 11.18 However, the
number is likely to be higher as many child marriages are unregistered.19
Overall, the Government of Iran has not passed, or enforced, national legislation prohibiting all
forms of child marriage.
B. Ensure that children who have been married can file a complaint on family matters
such as divorce and custody of their children, and for financial compensation
Child marriage remains legal in Iran and those who are subject to it cannot seek financial
compensation. The Government of Iran has stated that when a case of forced marriage is filed
before the Judiciary, the forced marriage can be dissolved in accordance with the Civil Code and
those who bear responsibility for the forced marriage can be prosecuted, but there is no
opportunity for financial compensation.20 However, underage children in Iran lack access to
redress and legal recourse in this and other matters related to their marriage as they cannot file
lawsuits without the representation of their legal guardian.21 This inability to access the judicial
system frustrates children attempting to remove themselves from forced marriages22 as well as
limits their (theoretical but legally uncertain) ability to access rights afforded to married
individuals over the age of 18 years old.
Although Iranian law permits children under the age of 18 years old to marry, these children
have many rights associated with a marriage – whether during marriage or at its dissolution –
restricted until they reach the age of legal responsibility, which is 18 years old in Iran.23 The age
of legal responsibility is the age at which individuals can carry out legal activities, including the
transfer of documents (such as for a home or car deed), obtain an independent passport, obtain a
driver's license, obtain a power of attorney, act as power of attorney, and so on.
Yet Iranian law itself is vague and contradictory about which rights are available to married
children under the age of 18 years, compared to those who have reached the age of legal
responsibility, including in whether they can utilize the court system to file complaints, seek
18
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)
19
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 >
20
Universal Periodic Review, 2019, Reply of the Islamic Republic of Iran <https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/43/12/Add.1>
21
Suuntaus Project, Finnish Immigration Service- Country Information Service, ‘Violence against women and honour-related
violence in Iran’, 26 June 2015, <http://www.migri.fi/download/61597_Suuntausraportti_VakivaltaIran_finalFINAL_kaannosversio_EN.pdf?96fa691925bfd288 >
22
Universal Periodic Review, 2019, Reply of the Islamic Republic of Iran, <https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/43/12/Add.1 >
23
This differs from the age of legal majority in Iran, which is 9 years old for girls and 15 years old for boys.
3