for girls under 18.10 In January 2020, the U.N. Secretary General expressed concerns about
the slow progress of the bill, which has been under review since 201011 and as of February
2021 is 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 criminalizing domestic violence.”13 14 As of early
February 2021, the available draft of the law15 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 Code16, the Family Law17, and
the Islamic Penal Code18, which contain provisions effectively discriminating against women
and fail to protect them adequately from violence, including early and forced marriage.19
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran also noted during its 2019 Universal Period
Review that bills already drafted and currently going through the adoption process dealt with
the prohibition of early marriage, although without specifying the age limitation. The
Government added that it was raising awareness on the issue of child marriage in local
communities.20
Between March 2018 and March 2019, the National Organization for Civil Registration
reported over 30,000 marriages involving girls between the age 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 child marriages are unregistered.23 In January 2020 the Secretary General highlighted
that “the Government [of the Islamic Republic of Iran] expressed the view that setting the
10
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-womeniniran/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)
23
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
2