Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs


Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs is a cabinet-level position in Iran, headed by one of the Vice Presidents.

History

Before the Iranian Revolution in 1979, only a woman served in a similar capacity. Mahnaz Afkhami assumed office as the government minister responsible for women's affairs under administration of Prime Minister Amir-Abbas Hoveyda.
Shahla Habibi was appointed as the head of newly-established 'Bureau of Women's Affairs' and advisor in 1992. Her deputy Masoumeh Ebtekar, was reportedly the "main driving-force" behind the office. The office was renamed to the 'Centre for Women's Participation Affairs' under administration Mohammad Khatami and remained an advisor position, with Zahra Shojaei was appointed as its head. Under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the office was renamed to the 'Center for Women and Family Affairs' in 2005, a change that signaled the conservative attitude towards the women. Nasrin Soltankhah, Zohreh Tabibzadeh-Nouri and Maryam Mojtahedzadeh served in the capacity of heading the office until 2013, when the officeholder was promoted to a Vice President.
NameOfficeTime in officeAppointer
Mahnaz AfkhamiMinister without Portfolio for Women's Affairs1976–1978Amir-Abbas Hoveyda
Shahla HabibiBureau of Women's Affairs1992–1997Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Zahra ShojaeiCentre for Women's Participation Affairs1998–2005Mohammad Khatami
Nasrin SoltankhahCenter for Women and Family Affairs2005–2006Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Zohreh Tabibzadeh-NouriCenter for Women and Family Affairs2006–2009Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Maryam MojtahedzadehCenter for Women and Family Affairs2009–2013Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Vice Presidents