A/HRC/22/56 1. International obligations 37. In 1993, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights noted that the obligation of the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure equal opportunity for women warranted particular attention, especially in relation to the right to work, family-related rights and the right to education.38 In 2006, the authorities partially agreed to the implementation of recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences following her visit to the country. This included the agreement to reform discriminatory provisions in the country’s penal and civil laws, especially with regard to women’s equal rights in marriage and access to justice. In February 2010, the Government also received and accepted eight of the 13 recommendations relating to women’s rights during the universal periodic review.39 38. In its second periodic report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to be reviewed by the Committee at its fiftieth session,40 the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran discussed its programme to revise “existing rules and regulations” with a view to advancing women’s participation, raising public awareness about their “qualifications” and enhancing their skills. 41 The Government also maintained that women’s affairs had received “special attention in the economic, social, cultural and political development plans of the country” commensurate with its view that “men and women equally enjoy the protection of the law, and enjoy all human, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, in conformity with Islamic criteria”. 42 In qualifying its position, Government representatives have asserted that, “men and women are equal in human dignity and human rights; this is not to be confused with equating men and women’s role in family, society and in the development process”.43 39. The above viewpoint is further elaborated in the Charter on Women’s Rights and Responsibilities, adopted by the State adopted in 2004. According to the preamble thereto, the Charter was developed in accordance with the view that “there are various traditions and perspectives regarding women’s rights based on their different cultures”. The Charter, therefore, specifies the rights that the Government believes belong to both genders, and emphasizes the rights that it deems to be specific to women based on their “physical and psychological” differences. 40. In the light of the above, the Special Rapporteur joins the statement made by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights in her latest report, in which asserted that, while the tendency to view culture as an impediment to women’s rights is both over simplistic and problematic, many practices and norms that discriminate against women are justified by reference to culture, religion and tradition.44 In this respect, the Special Rapporteur maintains that the above-mentioned emphasis on gender roles places limitations on the obligation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to protect women’s full enjoyment of their civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights. He believes that this view arbitrarily qualifies the degree to which women may enjoy these rights as that which the 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 E/C.12/1993/7, para. 8. A/HRC/14/12. E/C.12/IRN/2. Ibid., para. 25. Ibid., paras. 25 and 27. Intervention by Eshagh Al-Habib, Ambassador and Deputy Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, on behalf of Maryam Mojtahedzadeh, Adviser to the President and Head of the Center for Women and Family Affairs, during the general discussion held by the Commission on the Status of Women at its fifty-sixth session, 28 February 2012. Available from www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw56/general-discussions/member-states/Iran.pdf A/67/287, para. 3. 13