Iranian women activists call for end to discrimination

A group of Iranian women activists gathered on the occasion of International Women’s Day to urge the Islamic Republic to release all women activists and end all discrimination against women in Iran.

These demands were addressed and compiled in a resolution in the “Green Gathering of Iranian Women’s Movement Activists” who gathered last night at the threshold of March 8, International Women's Day.

The participants urge Iran to join the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination and to establish legal, social and political solutions to end violence against women. Creating equal opportunities for women in all political, administrative and management areas, elimination of all forms of gender segregation and the release of all political prisoners are also amongst the articles of this resolution.

The creators of the resolution maintain that women have an equal share in the protests of the recent months against the outcome of the disputed presidential elections. They add: “Women have equally shouldered the demands of this movement without fear of beatings, imprisonment, bans from education, employment and leaving the country, deprivation from various civil rights and even death and martyrdom.”

They declare that women have participated in the Green movement with greater awareness and determination than in the past and played an active and vital role in this movement.” The resolution concludes that while they will lend their voices to the people within the Green Movement, they will also continue to struggle persistently for their independent demands.

Numerous women’s rights activists and families of recent detainees participated in last night's gathering.