Statement of the Stop Honor Killings Campaign
On the Occasion of March 8, International Women’s Day
March 8, International Women’s Day, recalls a long history of women’s struggles for the right to life, dignity, equality, and freedom. Emerging from the protests and strikes of women workers in the early twentieth century, this day has become a global symbol in the fight against discrimination and violence. In Iran as well, from the Constitutional Revolution to the present, women have consistently stood at the forefront of struggles for justice and freedom, paying a heavy price. Today, in continuity with that history of resistance, the women of Iran remain the voice of change and equality.
On this historic day, we emphasize the necessity of keeping alive and safeguarding the achievements and aspirations of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement a slogan that is not only a cry against violence and repression, but also a declaration redefining human dignity and women’s right to bodily autonomy and self-determination. We will not allow women’s demands to once again be pushed to the margins in the shadow of political developments, power struggles, or male-dominated narratives. Preserving the collective memory of this movement and preventing the erasure or minimization of women’s role in contemporary Iranian history is part of our ethical and political responsibility.
Under the current conditions of war and widespread insecurity, women are more than ever exposed to multilayered forms of violence: from direct violence caused by armed conflict, displacement, and loss of shelter, to the rise in domestic violence under psychological and economic pressure. Global experience has shown that in times of war and instability, the risks of sexual exploitation, forced marriages, human trafficking, and intensified social control over women’s bodies and lives increase. At the same time, the weakening of protective and judicial institutions further restricts women’s access to justice and support services, trapping them in cycles of vulnerability.
We warn that the continuation of war and political instability will directly lead to increased poverty, unemployment, and social insecurity. This situation places women—especially female heads of household, adolescent girls, and women in marginalized regions—at heightened risk. Growing poverty means greater economic dependency, girls dropping out of school, child labor, and the escalation of domestic and so-called “honor”-based violence. In such circumstances, the protection of women’s lives and dignity must not be sidelined. We call for the immediate establishment of protective mechanisms, the strengthening of civil solidarity networks, systematic documentation of violence, and accountability for perpetrators.
We further stress that combating so-called “honor” killings cannot be achieved solely through legal reform. It requires profound cultural transformation, public education on gender equality, recognition of women’s right to choose, and the rejection of any ideology that claims ownership over women’s bodies and lives. No tradition, culture, or belief can justify violence or the deprivation of women’s right to life.
In conclusion, we condemn war in all its forms and by all parties. Wars dismantle protective structures, deepen poverty and instability, and inflict the greatest harm on civilians especially women and children. In many conflicts, women’s bodies become battlefields, and sexual violence is used as a tool of humiliation and domination. We believe that sustainable peace is a prerequisite for gender justice; without human security, no society can achieve equality.
This year, March 8 more than ever reminds us that peace, security, equality, and freedom are interconnected. We commit to keeping women’s voices strong, to ensuring that the ideals of “Woman, Life, Freedom” are not marginalized, and to continuing our struggle until the complete eradication of honor killings and all forms of violence against women.
#WomanLifeFreedom
Stop Honor Killings Campaign
March 8, 2026 (18 Esfand 1404)
