Additionally, during its last Universal Periodic Review (November 2019) the Government of the
Islamic Republic of Iran reported the upcoming adoption of the Act on Protection, Dignity and
Security of Women against Violence, that 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.”15 In January 2020, the U.N. Secretary General expressed
concerns about the slow progress of the bill, which has been under review since 201016 and as of
February 2021 is under the review of the Iranian Parliament.17 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.”18 19 As of early
February 2021, the available draft of the law20 suggests that the text may be insufficient to
protect women in Iran from discriminations and violence. Even though the draft law may bring
positive developments, it will remain limited by the Civil Code21, the Family Law22, and the
Islamic Penal Code23, which contain provisions effectively discriminating against women and
fail to protect them adequately from violence.24 In November 2019, the Islamic Republic of Iran
rejected States’ UPR recommendations asking for the criminalization of domestic violence and
marital rape.25
Structural discriminations deeply entrenched in the Iranian legal system ultimately translate to
widespread discrimination against women, in all aspects of their lives.26 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,27 or Oversight Bodies for the
exercise of Citizenship Rights in the country's provincial courts.28 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
15
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
17
New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/world/middleeast/iran-sexual-violence-metoo-women.html
18
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
19
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).
20
https://shenasname.ir/laws/7023
21
The Civil Code: < https://shenasname.ir/laws/6664 >
22
The Family Law: < https://shenasname.ir/subjects/family/1470 >
23
The Islamic Penal Code: <https://shenasname.ir/subjects/salamat/1571-mojazat92 >
24
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
25
Recommendations 26.253, 26.254, Universal Periodic Review, Iran, 2019, https://undocs.org/en/A/HRC/43/12/Add.1
26
See more: Minority Rights, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf
27
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.
28
These committees have the responsibility to oversee the strict implementation of the "Law on Respect for Legitimate Freedoms
and Civil Rights”
16
3