Teenage sisters commit suicide due to poverty

Two young sisters in a village on the outskirts of Farouj, Northern Khorassan province, committed suicide because of poverty. Their family found the bodies of the two sisters named Massoumeh N., 15, and Zeynab N., 14, who had hanged themselves with two ropes were found in a stable near their home in Bash village. Their father, a 70-year-old pitman, told the police: "I have six children and my only source of income is to work as a ditch-digger, which pays 3,000 to 4,000 tumans ($1.60 to $2.20) a day. We had no differences in the family; my daughters did this out of poverty. (Fars News Agency, Dec. 16)

 

73% of applicants for AIDS, addiction social aid are women

The executive director of the Socially Harmed Support Association said his group has set up a hotline for social emergencies and 73% of the persons who call for aid are women. Khosro Mansourian said, "Unfortunately, 73% of the callers on the hotline are women seeking relief and psychological support for AIDS and addiction… 56% of the women who apply for social services for AIDS are married, and 83% are women with higher education."

He said issues beyond poverty and ignorance affect the spread of AIDS, adding, "Issues such as political and social problems have more of an impact on the spread of this disease." (ILNA, Dec. 17)

 

Prostitution age dropping due to lack of social aid

Shahryar Moshiri, a Majlis [parliament] deputy from Bandar Abbas, said, "There is no serious or tangible impetus within the seventh Majlis to support women. This is especially so in the women's faction, which is expected to be the main defenders of women in society."

"One of the main reasons for the increase in prostitution and drop in the age of prostitution in Iran is the lack of social security for women. Unfortunately, women who have no income do not receive any financial aid. How long can a woman tolerate hunger, misery and woe? Ultimately, after months of bearing through this, she will certainly be dragged into wretched methods. Otherwise, no one would be willing to auction her own dignity. (ILNA, Nov. 24)

 

92% divorce rate in northwestern city

The number of registered marriages and divorces in Jaafar Abad, Ardebil province, for the first five months of the year were 109 and 99 respectively. That means the percentage of divorce in relation to marriage stands at 92%. The lowest registered divorce age was 13 for women and 26 for men. The most important reasons for divorce include the lack of familiarity with the spouse before marriage [forced marriage], and the wide age gap. (Mehr Ardebil Weekly, Dec. 17)

 

Everyday one person sets self on fire in Ilam province

A member of Ilam city council (western Iran) said unemployment, addiction and suicide are so high in the province that every year, over 306 people set themselves on fire. Most of the cases are women. (Etemad daily, Dec. 10)

 

Iran hangs woman in north-east town prison

A woman was hanged in prison in the north-eastern town of Shirvan. The woman, only identified as Akram N., was accused of stabbing to another woman to death in 2001. (ISNA, Dec. 10)

 

Women's official rejects CEDAW as 'blind imitation of other countries'

Commenting on whether Iran would join the CEDAW, the president of the Center for Women and Family Affairs said, "Widespread investigations must be conducted before Iran joins the convention. Our measures must be based on knowledge and not blind imitation of other countries. Just because other countries accuse Iran of failing to observe women's rights does not mean that it must join the CEDAW."

Dr. Nasrin Soltankhah said, "Accepting any international pledge and agreement by the Islamic epublic must be based on the three principles of honor, wisdom and interests, so we must examine how effective Iran's joining the CEDAW would be in realizing women's rights." (Mehr News Agency, Nov. 12)

 

Women driven out of social life in southern port city

Soaring unemployment among educated women in the city of Dayyer in Bushehr province (southern Iran) has worried the women. Robabeh Amini, advisor to the deputy governor, says, "Up until 1985, there was only one woman in Dayyer with a diploma. But now that the number of educated women has increased, none of them have jobs. About 500 female university graduates in Dayyer are unemployed.

Amini added, "Even the seashore here has turned into a men's area. Women do not have the right to walk on the beach." (Kanoun-e Zanan website, Dec. 16)

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