development for women.” 10 There is no readily available information as to what extent these
measures effectively translated in practice. In fact, recent statistics suggest otherwise: a recent
World Bank study ranked Iran fourth-lowest in its 2019 Women, Business and the Law index,11
and according to the Government’s statistics published in 2018, female economic participation
stood at 15.9 per cent for women, compared to 64.1 per cent for men, one of the lowest rates in
the world.12
Structural discriminations deeply entrenched in the Iranian legal system ultimately translate in
practice to widespread discrimination against women.13 There are a number of mechanisms
where Iranian citizens can report violations of their rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran,
including the Article 90 Commission of the parliament,14 or Oversight Bodies for the exercise of
Citizenship Rights in the country's provincial courts.15 However, 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 properly adjudicated in compliance with
international standards. There is no independent National Human Rights Institution competent to
receive complaints from children, including girls, in the Islamic Republic of Iran. With regards
to illegal acts of violence against women under Iranian law, there is no readily available
information that might suggest that complaints are adequately addressed, investigated and
adjudicated.
The status of women in the Islamic Republic of Iran is far from complying with international
standards as set under Article 2, 3 and 23 of the ICCPR and women do not enjoy equal rights and
freedoms. Reportedly, Ali Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader, has called gender equality
‘one of the biggest mistakes of Western thought.’16 This might well suggest that the Islamic
Republic of Iran is not currently considering taking steps to address the structural and
institutionalized discrimination against women in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Even though The
Government engaged in steps to enhance the status of women in practice, notably with regards to
the right to work, these measures have yet to bear their fruits and ultimately do not address the
unequal status of women under Iranian law. In effect, the equal enjoyment of rights and
freedoms for women in the Islamic Republic of Iran is not guaranteed.17
C. Discrimination based on religion or belief and ethnicity
10
UPR 2019, National Report, Islamic Republic of Iran, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/WG.6/34/IRN/1
World Bank, Women, Business and the Law 2019: A Decade of Reform, May 2019, p.9
12
Statistical Centre of Iran, Natayej-e-Amar giri-ye- nirou-ye-kaar, Paeiz-e-1396 [Results of the census on workforce, Autumn
of 1396], https://bit.ly/330NG8t
13
See more: Minority Rights, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf
14
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.
15
These committees have the responsibility to oversee the strict implementation of the "Law on Respect for Legitimate Freedoms
and Civil Rights”
16
Minority Rights, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf
17
See more : Minority Rights, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf
11
3