Iranian Official Outlines Comprehensive Support for Women and Families, Emphasizes Educational Rights
In a detailed address, a senior Iranian official has underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of children and empowering women, particularly female heads of households, through a multi-faceted support system.
Guaranteeing Education for Every Child
Zahra Behrouz Azar, the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, emphasized the fundamental right to education for all Iranian children. “A key priority for us is to ensure that all of Iran’s children are able to utilize the available educational facilities,” she stated. She highlighted that the right to education is essential for children’s socialization process within the school environment.
Addressing the specific issue of school dropouts, Behrouz Azar confirmed that the problem of children lacking identification documents has been resolved. Through coordination with the Minister of Education and a directive from her office, these children are now mandated to be enrolled in schools, ensuring they are not deprived of their right to education and social development.
Balancing Motherhood and Social Participation
Behrouz Azar also stressed the importance of motherhood alongside women’s active social roles. “We believe that women can not only play an active social role, but their feminine characteristics, especially the aspect of motherhood, should also be established and strengthened,” she said. Creating a balance between family development and women’s social activity was noted as a fundamental goal.
To support working mothers, she announced that a “flexible employment” scheme is on the government’s agenda, with its relevant regulations being drafted. This program will allow mothers with young or school-age children to choose between morning or evening shifts. Additional facilities for mothers caring for the elderly or sick family members, including hourly leave and flexible arrival times, are also set to be implemented soon.
Financial Access and Loan Guarantees for Female Heads of Households
A significant part of the address focused on empowering female heads of households. Behrouz Azar spoke of the challenges women face in accessing financial resources, particularly loans, due to a lack of collateral or guarantors. To overcome this, the Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs has announced that for eligible women from the first to fifth income deciles who cannot provide a sufficient guarantor, the office itself will act as the guarantor. This intervention enables these women to receive the necessary loans to start businesses.
Comprehensive Welfare and Insurance Support
Maryam Karami, a welfare official, elaborated on the extensive support network. She stated that a significant number of urban and rural female heads of households currently benefit from social retirement insurance. Upon completing their insurance period and receiving a pension, they graduate from the direct support cycle of the welfare organization.
Various programs for the empowerment and employment of these women are underway, with ongoing insurance support to strengthen this demographic. Karami also mentioned the formation of “support groups” for female heads of households, which are active in areas such as shoe production, food packaging, and dried fruit distribution, aiming to bolster the capabilities of the target community.
Eligibility for welfare coverage was clarified: women who are unable to support themselves due to the death, absence, or disability of a spouse, or due to social harms, and who do not receive a pension from other supportive organizations and are in a low-income bracket, can be covered by the welfare organization.
Educational, Recreational, and Conscription Exemption Programs
The support extends beyond employment. Programs include life skills training, preventative healthcare for disabilities, and cultural and sports excursions for the women and their children. A notable measure is the implementation of conscription exemption for the sons of these families under a specific scheme, which effectively recognizes the son’s role as the caretaker for his mother.