A/HRC/43/2 Education for a maximum of five years and the death penalty would not be enforced if the perpetrators were under the age of 18 years. 597. The delegation also emphasized that torture and ill treatment in the country were forbidden under the Constitution and the Islamic teachings and values. They were also forbidden, based on national criminal law and international commitments. Those who commit ill treatment must bear responsibility and be held accountable according to the law. 598. The delegation also noted that the Guidelines to “Protect and Promote the Human Dignity and Human Values in Judicial Process” approved in 2019 was one of the examples, aimed at enhancing accountability. As such, due process of law, interdependence of judges, access to lawyers and fair trials, forbidding arbitrary detention and torture, and equality before the law had been strengthened. 599. Regarding the recommendations on women’s rights, the delegation emphasized that, after the Revolution and even during the uprisings that led to the victory of the Revolution, women had been pioneers. They had been active in many policy-making processes and national Policy Planning. In this regard, the delegation referred to the documents on “Promotion of Women and Family’s Life”, “The Law on Transferring Nationality to the Children through Iranian Women Who Have Married Foreigners”, “the Protection Plan” and “Securing the Dignity and the Safety of Women against Violence”, which formed a part of regulations and laws that had been developed and approved at the national level. 600. The delegation noted that currently women were a half of the student’s population of the country; 30 per cent of the jobs that require high levels of education were devoted to women; 37 per cent of physicians were women. The presence of women in management system was 18 per cent and was supposed to increase to 30 per cent in the next year. Women were holding high official positions such as the Deputy President or the Advisor to the President and the Head of Judiciary, Members of the Parliament, Ambassadors and judges. The delegation highlighted that the Government was determined to continue its efforts to strengthen women’s rights, both in law and in practice. 601. Concerning the rights of religious minorities, the delegation emphasized that, in accordance with Article 3 of the Constitution, political and social freedoms, participation of the public in determining their political, economic, social and cultural destiny, the removal of unjust discrimination, and the provision of just opportunities for everyone in all material and intellectual fields, were stipulated and guaranteed; There were no restrictions or exceptions before the law, and all citizens were equally protected by the law. The rights of religious minorities, ethnicities as well as social and political orientations are enshrined in the Charter on Citizen’s Rights and all government departments were required to observe them. The Act on Dispute Settlement and Conciliation stipulated that religious minorities may have their own dispute-resolution councils. The adoption of the Law on presence of religious minorities in the Councils, the criminalization of insulting religions recognized in the Constitution, alongside five parliamentary seats for religious minorities were notable achievements in this area. 602. The delegation also highlighted that civil rights, including freedom of expression and access to information, freedom of the assembly, freedom of association, and political and social participation were explicitly guaranteed, thus providing in practice for an atmosphere conducive to the effective activities of journalists, reporters, the media and non-governmental organizations. 603. The delegation further noted the establishment of a centre for dissemination and free access to information, the Government Guidelines on securing free access to information, the Cabinet Decision on Securing peaceful assemblies and associations and assemblies, the Charter on Political Dialogue, and the Guideline on the Development of NGOs’ Participation in Securing Citizens' rights in the bureaucratic system. GE. 95