Why do Iranian women want to find their way to the parliament and increase their numbers in the parliament? Isn’t it true that the representation of Iranian women in various periods has not been a real representation of the majority of Iranian women and has even issued votes against the interests of women and against gender equality? Is it beneficial to increase the number of women in the parliament in such circumstances?

As we approach the Iranian parliamentary elections in the month of Esfand, efforts to increase the presence of women in the parliament have intensified. In this regard, a campaign called “Changing the Masculine Face of the Parliament” has been launched in Iran, with the goal of advocating for greater gender equality and the entrance of more women into the parliament.

Right.

Increase.

Company.

Political

Women.

The 20th article of the Iranian Constitution states that “all individuals of the nation, regardless of gender, are equal under the protection of the law and enjoy all human, political, economic, social, and cultural rights within the limits of Islamic criteria.” However, gender equality in Iran is more like a myth and there are numerous examples of its violation. Iranian women do not have equal social and private rights at various levels, and this inequality is most evident in political participation, where only three percent of the members of the Iranian parliament are women. The number of women who have reached ministerial positions in Iran’s history is also very low, and positions such as the presidency are defined as masculine roles.

Not only in Iran, but also around the world, women’s movements are always striving to increase women’s participation in decision-making and political management. This demand is also reflected in the Beijing World Conference document.

In addition, the “Millennium Development Document” which was signed in 1379 (2000) and was also approved by the Iranian government in 1384 (2005), emphasizes gender equality and women’s empowerment. This document states that the signatory countries must allocate 30% of their parliamentary seats to women by 1394 (2015).

The resolution of the Union of Parliaments also states that member parliaments must have at least 25% female representation.

Based on this, the issue of allocating a 30% quota for women in the parliament has been raised by the Vice Presidency for Women’s Affairs since the end of last year, and of course the Expediency Council rejected it with a difference of two votes in July of this year.

In the past, some women representatives in previous terms – such as Fatemeh Behrouzi – had tried to propose plans to increase women’s presence, but were unsuccessful. Even the current Women’s Faction in Parliament had proposed a plan to include a certain number of female candidates on party election lists, but this plan was not approved due to serious opposition from the government representative, Hassan Rouhani.

Although some political activists and women believe that increasing the number of women in parliament does not necessarily mean their influence on changing laws and policies, another group sees the increase in women’s participation in political careers as a positive step overall. They believe that this positive discrimination is effective in breaking the taboo of women’s presence in high-level political positions in societies like Iran, where there are still many obstacles to women’s political participation. Even if women manage to enter these high-level careers, they may still be conservative and opposed to gender equality patterns.

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Violence.

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One of the most significant obstacles to gender equality in Iran is official and legal violence. This means that Iranian laws, which are based on Islamic Sharia, are inherently written on the basis of gender inequality. This is why many forms of violence against Iranian women are supported by the law at various levels. In addition, the plans and bills written by the Iranian parliament and government with minimal participation of women are often anti-women and perpetuate gender discrimination.

Supporters of increasing women’s presence in parliament and their wider political participation believe that women’s presence can help reduce the approval of harsh laws against women, as published statistics by international organizations have shown that increasing women’s political participation overall helps to pass laws and policies that have less violence against women, and these women can bring women-related issues into the legislative arena.

Some believe that even conservative women in the Iranian parliament have at times acted in favor of women and have had plans for the benefit of certain groups of women in society, although some consider their approval of anti-women plans and their collaboration with men to be more significant.

Effort / Struggle

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Although the Iranian parliamentary elections are faced with the precondition of approval by the representatives of the parliament from a body called the Guardian Council, women activists are trying to break the Guardian Council’s barrier in various ways and support women in different electoral areas who have egalitarian ideas. Their entry into the parliament can break the unity of the conservative groups that have dominated the representation of women in the parliament so far. According to these groups, it is possible for women with egalitarian ideas to be encouraged to participate in these elections and find their way into the parliament independently.

Although this idea may seem attractive, it is accompanied by major challenges such as the power of the Guardian Council and the lack of financial resources for independent women to compete with conservative groups. In response to this argument, groups that are striving for a higher number of women to enter parliament believe that even if independent and equality-seeking women do not ultimately make it to parliament, promoting these ideas can lead to awareness in society and draw public attention to the issue of women’s political participation.

What.

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Agreement.

Ast.

Change.

Slow?

Changing unequal laws is one of the most important demands and fundamental goals of women who strive to enter parliament. Their minimum demand is to prepare public opinion for accepting women in various political levels. According to them, introducing women who have demands for equality, even if it does not ultimately lead to entering parliament, is a way to bring these demands to the level of society and a powerful challenge.

Supporters of women’s entrance into parliament are now busy drafting plans that, if presented to elected female representatives, can facilitate their work in legislation and empower their activities.

But are they able to change the unequal structure of laws in Iran? If efforts to enter women’s equality advocates into parliament are successful, will these women have the power to challenge their political opponents? And even if their proposals are approved in parliament, will the Guardian Council give them its stamp of approval?