Proposal to Establish a National Authority for the Protection and Support of Women

The Vice President for Women and Family Affairs has stated that she has submitted a proposal to the government to establish a national authority for the protection and support of women, which is set to be reviewed by the government's social commission. Shahindokht Molaverdi, in an interview with ISNA news agency, differentiated between two issues regarding women's security, one of which is the bill for women's security against violence. According to Molaverdi, this bill was proposed by the Center for Women and Family Affairs during the tenth government and had been stalled in the government’s legislative commission. She mentioned that the necessary reviews of this bill have now been completed, and its judicial section has been submitted to the judiciary, where the establishment of a national authority for the protection and support of women has been proposed. Additionally, Molaverdi reported on another issue related to women's security, which is the preparation of a national document on the social security of women and children, addressed in Article 227 of the Fifth Development Plan. She clarified that this document is different from the women's security bill. In a discussion with Asieh Amini, a women's rights activist residing in Norway, she noted that the details of the proposal for the establishment of the national authority have not yet been clarified by Molaverdi. However, the news indicates that women are being defined as victims in this proposal, suggesting that they are in a position that requires defense and security. Amini pointed out that previous proposals by the Women's and Family Affairs Office aimed at protecting women were also directed towards those at risk or who had already suffered harm. Therefore, it can be concluded that the position of women is seen as defensible rather than equal or normal in Iranian society. Amini also highlighted the contradiction between the government's efforts to ensure women's security while the parliament has mandated the Basij forces to promote cultural practices related to the enforcement of virtue and prevention of vice. This proposal has been passed despite previous statements by Majid Ansari, the Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs, indicating that the enforcement of virtue and prevention of vice contradicts multiple principles of the constitution. It appears that the parliament and the government are adopting different approaches towards women. Amini believes this reflects a balance where some factions are pushing for laws that limit women's positions, particularly regarding hijab, while the government and some reformists are attempting to promote women's rights. She emphasized the need for laws that not only ensure women's security but also prevent violence and address superior positions. Meanwhile, recent economic policies of the Islamic Republic have been directed towards confining women to the home and prioritizing their roles as wives and homemakers. Recently, a tweet attributed to Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, stated in English that economic opportunities for women are open, which contradicts divine laws that restrict their economic activities in the name of Islam. Ahmad Alavi, an economist residing in Sweden with extensive studies on Islamic economics, was invited to discuss whether economic opportunities for women are genuinely open in Islam. Alavi noted that Islam does not exist independently of Muslims; it is interpreted by them from their religious sources, which often contain inconsistencies. Some sources state that women should stay at home and manage family affairs, while others do not explicitly state this. Thus, there is a conflict among the sources and texts. He summarized that while there is no explicit prohibition against women's economic activity, the limitations imposed create barriers, reflecting a traditional view of family and social systems based on gender roles. Alavi also pointed out the contradiction between the government's statements regarding women's freedoms in international forums and the reality within Iran, where women's participation in the labor market is decreasing. He noted that despite civil society's resistance and the impact of international relations on Iran's economy, current policies both encourage and hinder women's participation, particularly through gender segregation in various sectors. Overall, it can be said that despite the challenges, women are increasingly entering the public sphere and claiming jobs, but the current policies are inconsistent and often obstructive.