In sessions on April 15, 16, and 17, 1987, the National Council of Resistance of Iran unanimously adopted a plan regarding the freedoms and rights of women. These sessions were chaired by Massoud Rajavi, President of the NCRI.
The Council expressed appreciation for "the admirable sacrifice and unforgettable resistance by Mojahedin and combatant Iranian women against the anti-human Khomeini regime," and ratified a plan of thirteen articles entitled the Declaration of the Nationa l Council of Resistance of Iran on the Freedoms and Rights of Women.
As with other Council ratifications for the post-Khomeini era, the declaration specifies the future Provisional Government's plan of action. It should be clarified that even the most fundamental rights and liberties, included in the NCRI plan, are presen tly denied by the Khomeini regime either officially and publicly, or practically; Iranian women do not currently enjoy any of these rights.
The articles of the declaration are as follows:
1. The right to elect and be elected in all elections, and the right to suffrage in all referendums.
2. The right to employment and free selection of profession, and the right to hold any public or government position, office or profession, including the presidency or judgeship in all judicial institutions.
3. The right to free political and social activity, social intercourse and travel without the permission of another person.
4. The right to freely choose clothing and covering.
5. The right to use, without discrimination, all instructional, educational, athletic, and artistic resources; and the right to participate in all athletic competitions and artistic activities.
6. Recognition of women's associations and support for their voluntary formation throughout the country; consideration of special privileges in various social, administrative, cultural, and particularly educational fields in order to abolish inequality a nd the dual oppression of women.
7. Equal pay for equal work; prohibition of discrimination in hiring and during employment; equal access to various privileges such as vacations, retirement benefits, and disability compensation; enjoyment of child and marital benefits and unemployment in surance; the right to salary and special accommodations during pregnancy, childbirth, and care of infants.
8. Absolute freedom in choice of spouse and marriage, which can take place only with the consent of both parties and must be registered with a legal authority; marriage prior to the attainment of legal age is prohibited; in family life, any form of compu lsion or coercion of the wife is prohibited.
9. Equal right to divorce; divorce must be processed by a qualified judicial court; women and men are equal in presenting grounds for divorce; child custody and support as well as financial settlements will be determined by the verdict for divorce.
10. Support for widowed and divorced women and for children in their custody; care will be provided through the National Social Welfare System.
11. Elimination of legal inequalities with regard to testimony, guardianship, custody and inheritance.
12. Polygamy is prohibited; under special circumstances, the law would specify the appropriate arrangements.
13. Prohibition of all forms of sexual exploitation of women on any pretext, and abrogation of all customs, laws, and provisions authorizing the father, mother, parent, guardian, or another to bestow a girl or a woman, on the pretext of marriage or other, for sexual gratification or exploitation.
The above declaration was unanimously ratified and signed on April 17, 1987, by all member-organizations and personalities of the National Council of Resistance.
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