One Million Signatures Campaign marks 20 years of women's rights activism

The One Million Signatures Campaign in Iran has reached its twentieth anniversary, drawing historical parallels to the women's movement in Morocco during the early 1990s. Iranian activists drew inspiration from the Moroccan experience, specifically utilizing large-scale signature collection as a tool for social mobilization, public awareness, and political pressure to reform discriminatory laws.

In Morocco, the Union de l'Action Féminine (UAF) launched a campaign in 1992 to reform the Moudawana (family law). Their primary goals included restricting or abolishing polygamy, removing the mandatory guardianship of fathers in marriage, reforming divorce laws to grant women more rights, and establishing a legal marriage age of 18. These efforts contributed to significant legal reforms in 2004, with further updates currently undergoing legislative processes.

While inspired by the Moroccan model, the Iranian campaign had to be redefined and localized to fit the distinct political, legal, and social landscape of Iran. Comparative research indicates that while the Moroccan movement provided a strategic template, the differing political structures and opportunities in each country significantly influenced the specific paths and outcomes of the two movements.