Research and Development in Public Law

Research and Development in Public Law

The Right to Health: The Unacknowledged Legacy of Women in the Constitutional Movement

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 VPhD in Jurisprudence and Islamic Law, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Master of Arts, History, Department of Iranology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The Constitutional Movement in Iran, as a turning point in the nation’s history, stimulated the first organized efforts toward social modernization and the improvement of welfare under the influence of modern ideas. During this period, public health concerns and the right to health especially in the context of widespread epidemics emerged as issues of national importance. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, this study examines the impact of the Constitutional era on women’s rights and their agency in advancing those rights. The findings indicate that the active participation of women intellectuals in civic and health associations, such as the Anjoman-e Nazafat (Hygiene Association) in Tehran, alongside their involvement in initiatives related to water sanitation, street cleaning, waste management, child vaccination campaigns, and critical discussions of public health in the press, not only constituted a significant advancement in community health but also marked a crucial beginning in the recognition of women’s public agency and their influence on health policy formation. By contributing to the emergence of civil and governmental institutions, this movement laid the groundwork for the systematic attention to health and sanitation in Iran.


Keywords