Labor and Professional Organizations Emphasize the Need for Gender Equality in Iran

Several labor and professional organizations issued statements on Saturday, March 8, in honor of International Women's Day, criticizing gender discrimination in Iran and emphasizing the necessity of gender equality. The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company stressed the need to 'eliminate inequalities and discriminations' in society, including in the workplace, noting that International Women's Day 'is a symbol of resistance, solidarity, and the efforts and struggles of women for justice and equality.' They stated: 'Women are a vital force in society and workplaces, playing an irreplaceable role in progress, welfare, and human advancement, yet a significant number of women still face structural social, economic, legal, and cultural barriers.' The statement continued: 'As an aware and united society, it is our duty to support equal rights for all women. We at the Syndicate of Workers of the Bus Company commend the relentless struggles of working women to improve their living and working conditions and reaffirm our commitment to supporting the full and unconditional rights of women.' The syndicate expressed its belief that 'justice and equality are not only unattainable dreams but rights that everyone should enjoy' and hoped that 'discrimination, sexual oppression, and other forms of oppression and repression will be completely eradicated.' This labor organization also reiterated its demand for 'the abolition of cruel death sentences, including those against Sharifeh Mohammadi, Varisheh Moradi, and Pakhshan Azizi, and the unconditional release of Reyhaneh Ansarinezha, Anisha Asadollahi, Nasrin Javadi, Golrokh Iraei, and all imprisoned women for labor, political, and ideological reasons.' The Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane, the Retirees Union, and the Coordination Committee for the Help of Establishing Labor Organizations and Retired Workers of Khuzestan issued a joint statement saying: 'Protesting women in Iran continue to stand firmly and resolutely against the extensive dimensions of oppression and misogyny, bravely confronting the wave of dark-minded oppressors, risking their lives, imprisonment, and torture, and have not retreated from medieval death sentences and executions.' They noted the active presence of women in ongoing nationwide movements of workers, teachers, retirees, nurses, students, and other sectors, stating that they have always stood against the prevailing unequal and discriminatory conditions and have said no to 'female poverty, layoffs, job losses, the imposition of meager and unequal wages for equal work, and issues regarding employment, retirement, and social rights and benefits.' The Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh, the Retirees Union, and the Coordination Committee also pointed out that 'the repression, detention, and imprisonment of protesting and fighting women continue' and added: 'Many women, both political and ordinary, are in prisons under inhumane conditions, completely deprived of rights and access to healthcare, personal visits, and phone calls.' They mentioned names such as 'Zeynab Jalalian, Reyhaneh Ansarinezha, Sepideh Gholian, Nahid Khodajoo, Nahid Shirpish, Raheleh Rahimi Pour, Nasrin Javadi, and Anisha Asadollahi,' stating: 'Some active working women like Sharifeh Mohammadi, Pakhshan Azizi, and Varisheh Moradi are under death sentences due to the issuance and confirmation of cruel sentences.' The statement emphasized that 'despite all these hardships, women have consciously and decisively shown' that they are 'an influential and decisive force in the ongoing transformations of their society; as they constitute half of it and cannot be eliminated.' The Iranian Teachers' Trade Association (Tehran) also issued a statement on International Women's Day, noting that despite significant progress in some areas, women still face deep structural and cultural barriers that make gender equality a major challenge. This professional organization wrote about the education sector: 'Although Iranian women have made remarkable progress in recent decades through their efforts and have a prominent presence in many academic fields, these advancements have not necessarily led to gender equality in the labor market or public sphere. In fact, despite achieving higher education, many women still face cultural and structural barriers that prevent them from attaining equal job and social positions with men.' The Iranian Teachers' Trade Association (Tehran) pointed out that 'one of the fundamental policies of the Islamic regime has been the oppression of women and their removal from economic, social, and political spheres' and added: 'In contrast, from that time until now, the social resistance of the women of this land against repressive policies has begun and continued.' This professional organization believes that 'the turning point of this social resistance is seen in the Women, Life, Freedom movement and the years following the movement, where ultimately brave Iranian women and girls have been able to force the Islamic regime to retreat regarding mandatory hijab.' The association emphasized: 'This brave and continuous resistance has opened a perspective for other social classes and groups and reminds us of the important principle that civil resistance, even against the current ruling system in the country, is the most certain and feasible method of social struggle.' A part of this statement reads: 'Gender equality is a necessary condition for achieving social justice and sustainable development, and as long as women cannot fully enjoy their human rights, Iranian society cannot reach its full potential.' The Kurdish Teachers' Trade Association (Sanandaj-Saqez and Ziviyeh-Mariwan and Sarvabad) also issued a statement titled 'International Women's Day, Victory for Women Breakers of Barriers,' stating: 'We believe that the perspectives of viewing women as sexual and gendered objects are on the verge of disappearing, and this path, while having its specific difficulties, has shaken the foundations of inequality and requires serious determination and action from the entire society to dismantle this unjust culture and build a more humane world where no one is limited, confined, or oppressed because of their gender.'