UN experts call on Iran to repeal “anti-abortion” population law Women’s Rights News

The new legislation puts more restrictions on abortions that are already limited, outlaws voluntary sterilizations, and recommends contraception.

Tehran, Iran – Leading United Nations experts have called on Iran to repeal a newly enacted law that violates women’s human rights under international law.

The Youth Population and Family Protection Act came into force on Monday in an effort to boost higher birth rates as Iran faces a crisis as its population ages. Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei has long supported the idea of ​​increasing tens of millions of Iran’s current population of tens of millions in the coming decades.

The legislation, which was speeded up by a temporary parliamentary committee and not put to a public vote in parliament, earlier this month was approved by the Constitutional Guardian, the Guardian Council. It can now be set “experimentally” for seven years, a period that can be extended.

On Tuesday, nine UN experts on human rights and violence against women, led by Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman on the human rights situation in Iran, said the new law sheds “light on international law.”

In one statement, experts said a vaguely worded provision would suggest that abortion, if performed on a large scale, would result in the crime of “corruption on Earth” which carries the death penalty.

“The effects of this law will be detrimental to the right to health of women and girls and it represents a worrying and backward change in a government that was praised for advancing the right to health,” they added.

“It’s amazing to see how far the authorities have applied criminal law to reduce women’s basic rights.”

The law has also been criticized by the New York Human Rights Watch group, which says it puts women’s health and lives at risk and must be repealed immediately.

Extensive restrictions have been imposed

Iran’s population growth rate is declining due to growing economic and social problems, with half of marriages in large cities ending in divorce.

The new law encourages marriages by providing loans and other incentives, such as land and cars, and seeks to promote and support the employment of married young people and pregnant women.

But it also includes more access to safe abortions that are already limited. A commission made up of representatives of the judiciary, Islamic jurists, lawmakers and doctors says it should have the final say on therapeutic abortions, including in cases that threaten a woman’s life or include fetal abnormalities.

He also recommends contraceptives by banning their free distribution and calls on state television to produce programs that promote childhood and denounce decisions to remain unmarried.

In addition to limiting prenatal screening tests, it also establishes a ban on voluntary sterilizations of men and women, with the exception of exceptional cases, which may disproportionately affect excluded women and victims of sexual violence.

The State Welfare Organization and others could lead to the birth of thousands of children suffering from rare diseases or various disabilities and in addition to exacerbating HIV infections, the law was enacted.

The organization said it has not been consulted about the implications of the law, which could directly affect its operation.