Iran’s Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Shahindokht Molaverdi, criticized the administration’s lack of attention to opportunities for women to play an active role in society and her own lack of executive authority to implement changes.

At a meeting in Esfahan, speaking to a special working group on women’s issues, Molaverdi criticized the administration’s Sixth Development Plan, saying, “In these plans, the religious and legal demands of women … in getting away from poverty, corruption and discrimination must be considered. The time has come that women must fulfill their share in the … development prospects.”

Expressing disappointment with the development plan, Molaverdi said, “This plan was supposed to have an innovative and comprehensive outlook on all of the issues facing Iranian society. The initial impression was that women would have their own specific portion, but after the items of this plan became known, it became clear that the initial impression of active females in the body of the administration was wrong.”

Molaverdi said, “The lack of attention by the system has diminished the constructive role of women in the previous years and for this reason, it is necessary that all the female provincial deputies in the country present their views on the Sixth Development Plan in an active and expert manner.”