The annual international campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence”, entitled “16 Orange Days”, ended on December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights Day. Although public awareness of violence against women has increased during the 34 years of the global campaign, the path to ending this violence remains long and complex. Violence against women […]...

Divorce in Iranian society is no longer a marginal or merely individual phenomenon, but a social, legal, and economic issue; an issue that reflects profound changes in the family structure, gender relations, and living conditions of society. The increase in the number of separations, especially consensual divorces, the change in the age of divorce, and […]...

In his 2020 speech at the “Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture” titled “Tackling the Inequality Pandemic: A New Social Contract for a New Era,” António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, offered strong criticism of neoliberal politicians and theorists. These were the same individuals who, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, claimed, under the slogan […]...

Femicide in Iran is a crisis phenomenon that reflects deep gender inequalities, legal gaps, and a culture of male dominance. The increase in the number of women being murdered, along with the absence of a strong legal framework that specifically addresses the killing of women based on gender, has raised concerns that some of these […]...

Kolbari, a practice most common in the provinces of Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and West Azerbaijan, is a phenomenon tightly intertwined with structural poverty, underdevelopment, and centralized governance policies. The state, through continuous underdevelopment of non-Shia and non-Persian regions, has exacerbated this issue—particularly in the Kurdish border areas. Years of neglect, historical insecurity, and a securitized view […]...

In today’s world, girls are no longer mere observers of change; they are themselves the driving force behind transformation. By standing against discrimination, with an informed mind and active presence in society, they are redefining the path to the future. From classrooms to social movements, from scientific innovations to civic engagement, girls are symbols of […]...

Femicide, the killing of women because of their gender, is one of the most extreme forms of gender-based violence. At its core, femicide stems from deeply rooted and long-standing patriarchal and misogynistic systems in which women’s lives are considered inferior and expendable, and the exercise of control over them is normalized. When women defy social […]...

“In war, women and children are the first victims, even before the conflicts begin seriously.”.*   War is gendered, not neutral. The wounds of war are not only on bodies, but also in lives that are forever changed, and it is women who carry these wounds silently. The costs and consequences of war disproportionately burden […]...

Mahr can be understood within the broader context of tradition: it has come down to us from a distant past and represents a period that may not necessarily align with the needs of our present. I put forth this claim on the basis of questions that have been persistently asked within our society for many […]...

In recent years, mahrieh (marital dowry) has become a topic of contention and dispute both in Iranian society and within the domains of policymaking and legislation. The culturally widespread trend of setting exorbitant mahrieh amounts has led lawmakers and the Iranian judiciary to pursue policies aimed at reducing legal and judicial support for mahrieh. However, […]...

In recent years, the issue of dowry-related imprisonment has become one of the significant challenges facing Iran’s legal and judicial system. On one hand, it concerns the rights and human dignity of men indebted for dowries; on the other hand, within the framework of Iran’s family law, dowry has become the only effective tool for […]...

Contrary to the belief that the challenges of dowry can be resolved merely by amending the Law on Financial Convictions, one of the most important and thought-provoking points in reforming family law is the necessity to consider religious matters and the codified rules outlined in the Book of Marriage. Despite the pressing need to adapt […]...