added that it was raising awareness on the issue of child marriage in local communities.50 However, in practice nothing has changed and discriminatory laws remain in place. Structural discrimination that is deeply entrenched in the Iranian legal system ultimately translate in practice into widespread discrimination against women, in all aspects of their lives.51 There are a number of mechanisms where Iranian citizens can report violations of their rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Parliament’s Article 90 Commission,52 or Oversight Bodies for the exercise of Citizenship Rights in the country's provincial courts.53 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 properly adjudicated in compliance with international standards. There is no independent National Human Rights Institution 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. B. Religious and Ethnic based discrimination Article 14 of the Constitution states that the government and Muslims in Iran are “duty-bound to treat non-Muslims in conformity with ethical norms and the principles of Islamic justice and equity, and to respect their citizen rights”. 54 Additionally, although Article 19 of the Constitution protects the equal rights of those who belong to an “ethnic group or tribe” regardless of the “colour, race, language, and the like”, it omits an explicit provision recognising religion or belief as a protected characteristic against discrimination.55 Article 23 of the Constitution stipulates that “the investigation of individuals’ beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.” 56 These protections, however, only apply to those “who refrain from engaging in conspiracy or activity against Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran”.57 50 Universal Periodic Review, Iran, 2019, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/43/12 See more: Minority Rights, https://minorityrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MRG_CFR_Iran_EN_Sept191.pdf 52 The Parliament’s 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. 53 These committees have the responsibility to oversee the strict implementation of the "Law on Respect for Legitimate Freedoms and Civil Rights” 54 The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wpcontent/uploads/constitution-english-1368.pdf 55 Ibid. 56 Ibid. 57 Article 14, The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wpcontent/uploads/constitution-english-1368.pdf 51 6