In a comprehensive report, the Islamic Republic of Iran outlines the significant strides it has made in promoting the rights and welfare of women. The Human Rights Statement on Supportive Laws for Women in Iran details over four decades of efforts to improve women’s social, political, and economic standing through various laws and initiatives aimed at protecting and empowering women in areas such as health, education, employment, and legal rights.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has made significant progress in enhancing the dignity, honor, and social and human character of women, advancing their rights and status in various sectors.
Human Rights Statement on Supportive Laws for Women in Iran
According to Jahanbanou, the Human Rights Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran published a detailed report outlining the key actions, laws, and measures supporting women, as well as the related achievements in various areas for women from the beginning of the Islamic Revolution until March 2023.
The introduction of the report mentions: Since its establishment, the Islamic Republic of Iran has given special attention to advancing the affairs of women and enhancing their rights and status. Iran has achieved notable progress in the promotion of women’s dignity, honor, and social and human character, undertaking extensive measures in health, education, employment, security, combating violence against women, and increasing their social participation, including involvement in decision-making positions.
Key Developments Over the Past 40 Years
Over the more than 40 years since the Islamic Revolution, there has been significant growth in the scientific, personal, moral, political, and social development of women in the Islamic Republic across various fields such as medicine, technology, education, establishment of organizations and centers dedicated to women, and the drafting and approval of numerous laws and regulations regarding women’s rights.
Women’s participation in various social and political movements advocating for their rights, as well as their presence in managerial, executive, legislative, and policy-making roles, has also increased.
Key Supportive Laws and Regulations for Women
According to the report on supportive laws and regulations for women until the end of 2023, women in the Islamic Republic of Iran have been included in development programs. A prime example is the attention given to women in the Constitution and the Sixth Economic, Social, and Cultural Development Plan.
In addition to general laws, numerous specific laws have been enacted to offer additional support to women. Hundreds of decrees have been approved by the government to support women and families, including the National Document on Women’s Security in Social Relations and the National Document on Children’s Security, both designed to enhance women’s and children’s rights in physical, psychological, social, and emotional aspects.
The most important laws and regulations directly or indirectly supporting women include guaranteeing comprehensive rights for both men and women, ensuring fair judicial security for all, and equality before the law. Laws ensure equal protection for women and men and their access to political, economic, and social rights.
The government is obliged to guarantee women’s rights in all respects. Specific provisions also exist for widows, elderly women, and women without guardians, along with granting maternal guardianship of children in the absence of a legal guardian, as outlined in the Iranian Constitution.
Furthermore, laws such as the Sixth Economic, Social, and Cultural Development Plan of 2016, the Women’s Rights and Responsibilities Charter (2006), the Labor Law, and various others highlight the commitment to safeguarding women’s rights.
Women’s Employment and Economic Participation
In terms of employment and economic participation, the proportion of women graduates in the workforce has reached 44.3%, and by 2023, 4.7 million women aged 15 and older were active in economic sectors. Over 352,000 women had received training in various fields by March 2023. Additionally, around 6,000 billion rials were provided as bank loans to home-based businesses in 2020, and 26,322 women benefited from rehabilitation, vocational training, and employment support services.
More than 3,500 women head of households, particularly in marginalized and climate-affected areas, have been employed, and loans for employment were granted to over 83,000 women in 2019 and 37,000 in the first half of 2020 through the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation.
Women in Decision-Making Positions
The report also emphasizes the increasing participation of women in decision-making positions. For example, the percentage of women in managerial positions rose from 13.6% in 2017 to 25% in 2021. By 2019, the number of female managers had reached 19,597.
Currently, Iran has 1,121 female judges, four female ambassadors, three female governors, eight female mayors, 62 female deputy governors, 15 female deputy provincial governors, 52 female district managers, and 2,393 female village managers.
Women’s Health and Well-Being
The report highlights that women’s access to appropriate health and medical services for disease prevention and treatment is a priority in Iran’s high-level policy frameworks. As of 2023, 98% of obstetric and gynecological specialists and 40% of specialized doctors in the country are women.
Free training in maternal empowerment for natural childbirth has been provided to 510,000 pregnant women. The infant mortality rate has reduced to 8.2 per 100,000 births. Other measures include screening, psychological services, and COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant women by 2023.
Women in Sports and Media
By 2023, 1.4 million women were engaged in organized sports, with 377,251 participating in elite sports in 2019 and 441,150 in the first half of 2020. The country is home to 934,589 professional female athletes. There are 16,111 sports clubs for women, with 150,384 female coaches and 8,965 female sports instructors active in the field.
Additionally, 96,988 female referees participated in national and international competitions, showing a 25% increase in the number of female referees over the past 40 years.
Women also represent nearly half of journalists and reporters in the media sector, with their participation in information technology reaching 31.5%. By 2020, 5,457 female managers were working in advertising and media, and there were over 23,543 female authors and over 1,051 female publishers in the country.
Women filmmakers in Iran have earned 114 national and 128 international awards at prominent festivals.
This report underscores the significant and growing role of women in various spheres of life in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
From: shargh