25 November: On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, We Stand in Sisterhood and Solidarity With the Women of Iran

[This text was written by the Gender and Equity Committee of ISGlobal.]

No country is entirely free of every form of violence against women—a problem only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In some parts of the world, however, this scourge has taken on particularly dramatic proportions. Nigeria and Afghanistan certainly come to mind, but, in light of recent events, so does Iran.

On 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we would like to take this opportunity to address what is happening in Iran. We are taking part in an annual 16-day campaign created by the United Nations in 2008 to raise awareness about the fact that “violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide”. From 25 November until 10 December (Human Rights Day)⁠—a period that includes International Women Human Rights Defenders Day on 29 November⁠—everyone is welcome to engage in activism under the umbrella of the campaign. We are taking part in an annual 16-day campaign created by the United Nations in 2008 to raise awareness about the fact that “violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide”

At ISGlobal, we have chosen to support the campaign by publicly taking a stand for the women and girls of Iran. Under the transnational slogan “Women, Life and Freedom”, Iranian women are leading peaceful protests in the face of constant government repression based on violence and humiliation. We want to express our support, our sisterhood and our solidarity with the women and girls of Iran in their rightful and peaceful struggle for their rights.

Protests are nothing new in Iran, but the current wave of demonstrations is unprecedented in scale. It is being led by a surprising and inspiring cohort of very young (Generation Z) feminists who, in mid-September, were shocked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini shortly after she was arrested for showing a few locks of hair. The image of the murdered young woman has been embraced by the protesters as a symbol of freedom.

Detail from Roshi Rouzbehani's Instagram account.

ISGlobal Statement

At ISGlobal, we strongly condemn the humiliating violence against women and girls and the extreme violence and repression that Iranian demonstrators have recently faced during rallies. We send our deepest condolences to the families of Mahsa Amini, Nika Shakarami, Hadis Najafi, Sarina Esmailzadeh and all of the more than two hundred people who have been murdered during the protests. We echo their voices for Women, Life and Freedom.

We also stand for the right of the Iranian people to organise themselves, protest, vote and live freely in a real democracy, exercising their rights without fear. Thus, we urge the international community to help the Iranian people, while respecting their sovereignty with the most sincere intentions at heart.

We also encourage people, at an individual level, to recognise and give voice to Iranian women through some of the following actions:

• Get informed.
• Take an interest in their history by reading books such as The Golden Cage by Shirin Ebadi and Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (later adapted for the screen).
• Deconstruct the narratives that revolve around the Middle East, its women and its symbols.
• Demand that the media provide broad and realistic coverage of the situation in countries like Iran.
• Amplify their protests in your community or by using the relevant hashtags on social media.
• Show up and show support.
• Press your governments to help the Iranian people, while respecting their sovereignty.
• Donate money or help to organisations that fight for human rights.
• Take care of the planet and its resources, because our production and consumption model directly impacts the lives of other people.
• Fight against the discrimination suffered by migrant women in European countries, at their borders, in access to housing, and even in schools for wearing the veil.

In short, we must take responsibility and not look the other way while the women of Iran fight for their freedom.