Human rights standards and their role in reforming Iran's criminal policy regarding the phenomenon of verbal violence

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student Assistant professor of law department of Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord branch, Shahrekord , iran

2 Assistant professor of law department of Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord branch, Shahrekord , iran

Abstract
Verbal violence, as one of the complex forms of psychological violence, has profound effects on social relationships and mental health of individuals. Since this type of violence has received less attention in criminal policy, the main question of the research is how to reduce verbal violence through legal reforms and move towards criminal policies based on human rights principles? The aim of the research is to examine alternative solutions to traditional punishments and their compliance with human rights standards. This research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method, and the research findings show that existing laws are not comprehensive enough to deal with all types of verbal violence. Traditional punishments also conflict with human rights principles and should be replaced by restorative justice frameworks in this regard. Since replacing criminal punishments with restorative justice approaches in dealing with verbal violence can have a significant impact on reducing social harm, the parties engage in dialogue and resolve disputes through mediation. Participation in educational programs also strengthens communication skills and emotion regulation, leading to a reduction in violent behavior in the long term. On the other hand, requiring perpetrators to undergo social services not only compensates for the damage, but also strengthens their sense of responsibility. In cases where verbal violence is caused by psychological problems, requiring the individual to undergo psychological counseling or treatment can help address the root causes of the problems. Research shows that the punitive penalties provided for verbal violence in Iranian laws are inconsistent with human rights principles.

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