Statement from a Group of Women Activists: Authorities Should Address Women's Minimal Demands

More than five hundred women’s rights activists have called on the government, officials, and decision-makers in Iran to pay attention to women’s demands in a statement released on International Women’s Day, March 8. The statement emphasizes: "For Iranian women, who have long struggled for human rights and equality and to eliminate discrimination, March 8 is very significant. In Iran, women’s rights activists (both men and women) have sought to unify their voices on this day to present their demands in various forms and remind policymakers of their legitimate requests." The statement further adds: "Therefore, with the aim of moving towards a better society and brighter days, we present suggestions to the government, officials, and decision-makers of the country and put them before the public for judgment; with the hope that it will lead to increased attention from public opinion and policymakers to the minimal demands of Iranian women and the shortcomings in this area." The women activists have outlined their demands in 16 areas. The statement mentions issues such as "creating a foundation and taking action for equality of all individuals in society regardless of gender in the presence of the law and in the context of supportive laws," "policy-making and mandating equal pay for women and men," "creating a free space for the independent activities of civil associations in the field of women with the aim of their active participation in all social, cultural, and political arenas," "facilitating the active and equal participation of women as their citizen rights in economic, political, social, cultural, and managerial fields, regardless of political affiliations," and "involving women in drafting laws by establishing connections between women representatives in independent civil organizations and governmental and legislative bodies." The statement concludes: "Since any change in the path of the country’s development occurs with consideration of the capacities of social forces and through dialogue with society and social reformers, on this last day of the year 1395, coinciding with International Women’s Day, we, the signatories of this statement, as part of civil society, demand attention and consideration from officials to the minimal demands presented." Several student organizations in Iran have also supported this statement. "Today is a day of equality-seeking for women in Iran." Additionally, a group of political activists and women’s rights defenders abroad has written a letter to female prisoners in Iran, stating, "International Women’s Day is also a day for us to raise our voices for justice and equality for women in Iran." According to the Iranian Women’s Association website, the letter states: "We decided to write to you, our imprisoned companions and sisters, who have endured the suffering of imprisonment and house arrest for defending the right to freedom, equality, and justice. What we should have discussed together, we put to paper." So far, 41 political and women’s rights activists have signed this letter. Among the signatories are Shirin Ebadi, Niloufar Beizaei, Mehrangiz Kar, Parastoo Forouhar, Shahrnush Parsipur, Nira Tohidi, Asieh Amini, Noushabeh Amiri, Parvin Bakhtiarnejad, and Roya Boroumand. Another part of the letter states: "On the eve of this great day, what is happening in our society? Poverty and unemployment are spreading like a plague, especially in a land where its vast oil and gas wealth is not used for social and economic foundations for production and entrepreneurship, but rather for military, political, and economic displays of power in corners of the East and distant and nearby neighbors." Reports indicate that currently, more than 60 political, civil, or ideological women activists are in Iranian prisons. In this context, the "Lightning Struck" movement of Iranian women, in conversation with Asieh Amini, highlights the concerning status of religious minorities in Iran. The annual report from the U.S. State Department criticizes human rights violations in Iran.