Understanding Sexual Assault: A Comparative Analysis of Iranian and UK Legislation (June 11)

Topic

The definitions of the activities and behaviours that constitute sexual assault differ in various cultures and legal jurisdictions. Therefore many victims of sexual assault might be unsure of whether the prevailing definition of their legal and cultural environment could accommodate them. This presentation seeks to examine the differences in the perceptions of Iranian women towards sexual assault by analysing the definition as it is found in Islamic Penal Code in Iran. The objective will be to compare the Iranian definition of sexual assault with the one found in UK law and thereafter consider prevailing opinions on preventive measures.

Women’s Rights Research Seminars

The Women’s Rights Research Seminars at Oxford was founded in 2009 with the initial aim of directing interdisciplinary scholarly attention to the legal status of women in Iran. Since then, the research group has broadened its purview to the rights of women in the Middle East, covering topics such as the politics of fertility, women in ethnic minorities, and the treatment of women in states governed and influenced by Islamic law and jurisprudence. WRRS welcomes seminar and paper proposals from any discipline.  Enquiries: Binesh Hass (binesh.hass@law.ox.ac.uk).