Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
A/HRC/37/68 para 95
Full recommendation:
The Special Rapporteur further calls on the Government to ratify the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and to amend laws that violate the
rights of women, including the rights to freedom of movement and work and the right to be free
from discrimination, especially in the workplace and in the hiring process. She urges the Islamic
Republic of Iran to protect children born within its jurisdiction by facilitating the ability of
women to pass on their citizenship to their sons and daughters, and to amend laws and
regulations, including on dress code that infringe upon the rights of women and undermines
their dignity. In the light of the high rates of child marriage, which is never in the best interest of
the child, the Special Rapporteur reiterates her call upon the Government to take steps to ensure
that the minimum age for marriage complies with international standards.
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
A. The Special Rapporteur further calls on the Government to ratify the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Government of Mohammad Khatami presented
a bill in order to ratify the Convention, which was adopted by the Parliament in August 2004.
However, the Guardian Council, which is in charge of giving the final approval in the adoption
process of laws in Iran, deemed the bill to be inconsistent with Islamic principles and norms, and
thus rejected it.
Article 3 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran stipulates that it is a duty of the State
to work towards “the abolition of all forms of undesirable discrimination and the provision of
equitable opportunities for all, in both the material and the intellectual spheres.”2 Article 20
guarantees that all citizens of Iran, men and women, enjoy the equal protection of the law and of
rights, “in conformity with the Islamic criteria.” Article 21 emphasizes that “the government
must ensure the rights of women in all respects, in conformity with Islamic criteria”. According
to Article 4 of the Constitution, the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran is entrusted
with determining and defining the framework of what constitutes “Islamic criteria” or standards.
1
CCPR.2.3.S.1.; CCPR.3.1.S.1.; CCPR.3.1.S.4.; CCPR.16.1.S.1.; CCPR.23.2.S.1.; CCPR.23.4.S.1.; CCPR.23.3.S.1.;
CRC.8.1.S.1.; ESCR.2.2.S.1.; ESCR.2.2.S.1.; ESCR.6.1.S.1.; ESCR.6.1.S.3.
CCPR.3.1.P.3.; CCPR.16.1.P.1.; CCPR.23.2.P.1.; CCPR.2.3.P.1.; CCPR.23.3.P.1.; ESCR.2.2.P.3.; ESCR.6.1.P.1.
CCPR.2.3.O.4.; CCPR.3.1.O.4.; CCPR.23.3.O.1.; CRC.8.1.O.2.; CCPR.2.1.O.1.; ESCR.6.1.O.2.
2
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/constitution-english-1368.pdf
1