Iran's Women

The Tehran based Zoroastrian Women’s Association, now over 50 years old, has been working for the welfare of women and children in Iran. It enjoys an NGO status with the United Nations says its vice president Parvin Gharib-Shahi who has been working for it for the past 35 years. She recalls that she had attended the Beijing Conference on Women in 1995 and found herself the only Zoroastrian there.

Gharib-Shahi: only Zoroastrian in Beijing

There are nine members of the Association’s board of directors, four of whom are office bearers, she tells us in halting English. The current president is Parvin Mehra­bani. Shahrokh Shahrokh’s sister Kata­youn Farsi had held the post for nearly 20 years, notes Gharib-Shahi. While 400 members elect them every three years, a government representative oversees the entire process, she notes. The Association interacts with other NGOs in organizing training courses, concerts, entertainment. All profits are distributed to social charities, she adds.