remain limited by the Civil Code20, the Family Law21, and the Islamic Penal Code22, which
contain provisions effectively discriminating against women and fail to protect them adequately
from violence.23 In November 2019, the Islamic Republic of Iran rejected States’ UPR
recommendations asking for the criminalization of domestic violence and marital rape.24
There is a serious lack of comprehensive and readily available official data on the prevalence of
domestic violence in the Islamic Republic of Iran.25 26 The Census Bureau, a governmental
agency responsible for data collection, does not permit international organizations to study the
issue in the country.27 The last extensive and published study on domestic violence carried out in
the Islamic Republic of Iran dates back to 2004.28 29 30 The assessment, developed throughout 32
volumes, was made available only to scholars and researchers at the Centre for Research in
Tehran 31 until 2014 when all volumes had reportedly disappeared from the Ministry of Interior
and the Ministry of Health.32 The study showed that about 66 per cent of women sampled
responded that they had been subjected to domestic violence in the first year of their marriage.33
34
Despite the lack of comprehensive official data, cases of domestic violence are regularly
reported and considered widespread in the Islamic Republic of Iran.35 36 In January 2021 the
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran reported that
20
The Civil Code: < https://shenasname.ir/laws/6664 >
The Family Law: < https://shenasname.ir/subjects/family/1470 >
22
The Islamic Penal Code: <https://shenasname.ir/subjects/salamat/1571-mojazat92 >
23
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
24
Recommendations 26.253, 26.254, Universal Periodic Review, Iran, 2019, https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/43/12/Add.1
25
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
26
Amnesty International, ‘You shall procreate’ (p. 31), March 2015,
https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1311112015ENGLISH.pdf
27
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
28
The study was undertaken by the Women’s Centre for Presidential Advisory, the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Higher
Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran and published in 2004. The study was conducted based on questionnaires and only
main cities were visited. Moradian, A., Domestic Violence against Single and Married Women in Iranian Society, The Chicago
School of Professional Society, August 2009 https://iranian.com/2009/09/10/domestic-violence-against-single-and-marriedwomen-in-iranian-society/
29
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
30
See ISNA https://bit.ly/3r2hQmC
31
Moradian, A., Domestic Violence against Single and Married Women in Iranian Society, The Chicago School of Professional
Society, August 2009 https://iranian.com/2009/09/10/domestic-violence-against-single-and-married-women-in-iranian-society/
32
Young Journalists Club, https://www.yjc.ir/fa/amp/news/5055566 ; 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
33
Moradian, A., Domestic Violence against Single and Married Women in Iranian Society, The Chicago School of Professional
Society, August 2009 https://iranian.com/2009/09/10/domestic-violence-against-single-and-married-women-in-iranian-society/
34
ISNA https://bit.ly/2OBLIsM
35
Amnesty International, ‘Iran 2019’, https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/iran/report-iran/
36
Human Rights Activists in Iran En-HRANA, 2019 report, https://www.en-hrana.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/HranaAnnual-Report-2019.pdf
21
3