Impact and significance of the 2016 ‘Campaign to change the male face of Parliament’ in Iran

Iranian women have never represented more than 5.9% of sittingparliamentarians in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This compares poorlywith relevant regional and global averages. In the lead up to the 2016parliamentary elections, the women’s movement took action to address thelow representation of women in the legislature by launching the ‘Campaignto Change the Male Face of Parliament’. The Campaign did not reach its goalof achieving 50 seats for women in the 2016–2020 Parliament. It was alsosubject to some criticism for effectively (or apparently) legitimising whatmany women view as a broken form of government unable to promote andprotect women’s rights in any meaningful sense. However, the Campaignwas an important exercise in democracy and had significant higher-orderimpacts on voter behaviour and women’s capacities. Through personalcommunication with three Campaign activists, this profile provides anauthoritative account of the Campaign experience and its impact andsignificance for the future of women’s empowerment in Iran.