BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 5

Iran represents a highly relevant case for discussions on SDG 5 – Gender Equality due to the significant gap between women’s achievements in education and society and the legal and institutional barriers that continue to affect women’s rights. Iranian women have achieved high levels of educational attainment and have an important presence in universities, professional sectors, science, and civil society. However, women’s participation and opportunities remain influenced by a legal framework that establishes different rights and responsibilities for men and women in several areas.

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Gender inequality in Iran is particularly visible in areas such as family law, employment, political participation, and personal freedoms. Certain legal provisions affect women’s rights regarding marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance, while women may face restrictions in some professional and social activities. Women’s participation in the labour market remains considerably lower than men’s, and their representation in political decision-making positions is limited. Additionally, concerns regarding gender-based violence, access to legal protection, and the treatment of women human rights defenders have been raised by international organizations.

In recent years, issues related to women’s rights and gender equality have gained significant international attention, particularly following nationwide debates on women’s rights and personal freedoms. The Iranian government has emphasized women’s role in national development and has introduced initiatives supporting women’s education and social participation, while international organizations continue to highlight remaining challenges regarding equal rights and opportunities.

list of references

Amnesty International. (2024). Iran: New compulsory veiling law intensifies oppression of women and girls. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/iran-new-compulsory-veiling-law-intensifies-oppression-of-women-and-girls/

United Nations. (n.d.). National review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action: Islamic Republic of Iran. United Nations. https://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/Review/responses/IRAN-English.pdf

UN Women. (2020). National report on women’s status in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Beijing +25). UN Women. https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/CSW/64/National-reviews/Iran.pdf

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). SDG indicators: Iran (Islamic Republic of) country profile. United Nations. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/irn

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.). Iran (Islamic Republic of). United Nations Human Rights Office. https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/iran

UN Women. (n.d.). Iran (Islamic Republic of) country data. UN Women Data Hub. https://data.unwomen.org/country/iran-islamic-republic-of

UN Women. (2026). UN Women gravely concerned by military strikes against Iran and escalation across the Middle East. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/statement/2026/03/un-women-gravely-concerned-by-military-strikes-against-iran-and-escalation-across-the-middle-east

USEFUL LINKS

• Country report/Voluntary National Reviews

  • https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/iran-new-compulsory-veiling-law-intensifies-oppression-of-women-and-girls/ 

  • https://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/Review/responses/IRAN-English.pdf

  • National Report on Women`s Status in the Islamic Republic of Iran(Beijing + 25): https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/CSW/64/National-reviews/Iran.pdf 

• Bibliography and UN pages about this country:

  • UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/irn 

  • UN human rights: https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/iran 

  • UN Women: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/statement/2026/03/un-women-gravely-concerned-by-military-strikes-against-iran-and-escalation-across-the-middle-east 

  • UN WOMEN count: https://data.unwomen.org/country/iran-islamic-republic-of