of women and adopting preventive and support measures to stop violence against women.”9
Reportedly, the bill also included the prohibition of forced and early marriage for girls under the
age of 18.10 In January 2020, the UN Secretary General expressed concerns about the slow
progress of the bill, which has been under review since 201011 and as of February 2021, was still
under the review of the Iranian Parliament.12 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 criminalising domestic violence.”13 14 As of early February 2021,
the available draft of the law15 suggested that the text may be insufficient to protect women in
Iran from discrimination and violence. Although the draft law may bring positive developments,
it will remain limited by the Civil Code16, the Family Law17, and the Islamic Penal Code18,
which contain provisions that effectively discriminate against women and fail to protect them
adequately from violence, including early marriage.19
During its 2019 Universal Periodic Review, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran also
noted that bills that had already been drafted and that were going through the adoption process,
dealt with the prohibition of early marriage, although they did not specify the age limitation. The
Government additionally mentioned that it was raising awareness on the issue of child marriage
in local communities.20
Between March 2018 and March 2019, the National Organisation for Civil Registration reported
over 30,000 marriages involving girls between the ages of 10 and 14, including 209 marriages
involving girls under the age of 11. 21 22 However, the number is likely to be higher as many
9
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 ; Iran Newspaper, ‘Hamsari ke zendegi nemikonad
amma mamnou’ol khorouj mikonad [A spouse who doesn’t live but bans me from leaving the country],’ 4 October 2015,
http://www.ion.ir/News/16777.html
11
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
12
New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/world/middleeast/iran-sexual-violence-metoo-women.html
13
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
14
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).
15
https://shenasname.ir/laws/7023
16
The Civil Code: https://shenasname.ir/laws/6664
17
The Family Law: https://shenasname.ir/subjects/family/1470
18
The Islamic Penal Code: https://shenasname.ir/subjects/salamat/1571-mojazat92
19
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
20
Universal Periodic Review, Iran, 2019, https://undocs.org/A/HRC/43/12
21
Report of the Secretary General, Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020, para 37
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IR/Report_of_the_SecretaryGeneral_on_the_situation_of_human_rights_in_the_Islamic_Republic_of_IranA4320.pdf
22
See www.sabteahval.ir/avej/tab-1499.aspx (in Farsi)
10
2