16 Human Rights Organizations Call for an End to 'Restrictive Reproductive Policies' in Iran

Sixteen human rights organizations issued a statement urging the international community and human rights activists to unite in condemning 'restrictive sexual and reproductive policies' in Iran and to call for the repeal of discriminatory laws through diplomatic channels. On Friday, May 10, they highlighted the Iranian government's intensified efforts to limit women's 'reproductive autonomy' and called on 'international and intergovernmental organizations' to emphasize the necessity of repealing laws that criminalize abortion in all their interactions with the Islamic Republic. The statement also requested that global human rights bodies maintain their specialized oversight to hold Iran accountable for violations of women's rights and recognize individuals directly involved in these violations through 'targeted actions' as responsible. Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, has repeatedly referred to population control policies in Iran as 'mistaken' in recent years. The Attorney General has called for the establishment of 'dedicated branches' to handle abortion cases. Accordingly, the government of Ebrahim Raisi issued the 'Population Youth Law' in November 2021, which includes stringent laws and policies aimed at combating abortion and increasing the population. Seven months later, the Minister of Health announced guidelines for 'preserving and caring for healthy fetuses,' focusing on the 'criminalization' of involvement in or assistance with abortion and imposing 'heavy' penalties. In their statement on Friday, the 16 human rights organizations demanded that the Islamic Republic 'revive comprehensive family planning programs' and 'immediately' repeal laws criminalizing abortion. The statement also emphasized that the Iranian government must adhere to 'international health standards and commitments' and ensure 'access to safe and legal abortion services,' while eliminating 'all punitive measures against providers and health service institutions.' These human rights organizations stated that these discriminatory policies 'endanger the lives of Iranian women' and called on the Islamic Republic to take 'concrete steps to combat systemic gender discrimination and promote gender equality in all social areas.' Among the signatories of this statement are Human Rights Watch, a collection of human rights activists, the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation, the Baloch Activists Campaign, and the Kurdistan Human Rights Association. According to the Ministry of Health's guidelines, 'involvement in or assistance with abortion is criminalized, and heavy penalties are imposed on the offender.' Despite these strict measures, numerous reports of home and underground abortions, which can pose life-threatening risks to women, have emerged in recent years. The Supreme Leader's insistence on increasing the population comes at a time when, according to the acknowledgment of Islamic Republic officials, the desire for childbearing among Iranian couples has significantly decreased due to economic and social pressures.