Protect women’s human rights defenders in Iran

The Iranian authorities are continuing to harass activists working to defend women’s rights. The Campaign for Equality, an Iranian women’s rights initiative was launched in 2006. The campaign aims to collect one million signatures of Iranian nationals to a petition demanding an end to legal discrimination against women in Iran.

The group also provides legal training to volunteers – both women and men – who then travel across the country to promote the campaign, and talk to women about their rights and the need for legal reform.

Background information

Women in Iran face far-reaching discrimination under the law. They are denied equal rights in marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance. Evidence given by a woman in court is considered only worth half that given by a man. A girl under the age of 13 can be forced to marry a much older man if her father permits it.

With the increase in women’s literacy in the last 30 years and the large number of women students at university, women are increasingly empowered to challenge discrimination. But their efforts are viewed with suspicion by the authorities, who have launched a campaign of intimidation and repression against them. The campaign’s website has been blocked at least seven times by the authorities and its activists are being targeted because of their work.

The Iranian authorities are continuing to harass activists working to defend women’s rights. The Campaign for Equality, an Iranian women’s rights initiative was launched in 2006. The campaign aims to collect one million signatures of Iranian nationals to a petition demanding an end to legal discrimination against women in Iran.

The group also provides legal training to volunteers – both women and men – who then travel across the country to promote the campaign, and talk to women about their rights and the need for legal reform.

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