UNIC activities during 2004

Press Conference on Bam

To mark the first anniversary of the Bam earthquake, UNIC-Tehran organized a joint press conference on 21 December 2004 to speak about UN’s work in the period after the earthquake. The press conference was addressed by Mr. Frederick Lyons, UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Kari Egge, UNICEF Representative, Dr. Abdin Salih, UNESCO Representative and Dr. Mubashar Riaz Sheikh, World Health Organization Representative.

Programme of student visits to UNIC-Tehran

Effective 25 October 2004, as part of the UN Day celebrations on 24 October, UNIC-Tehran and UN Association of Iran started a programme of receiving groups of students from middle and high schools in Tehran regularly every Monday. The UNIC Director, the National Information Officer and the Reference Assistant brief them on the UN history and structure and description of the major organs and agencies of the UN. This is followed by a film on the UN and a question and answer session. In addition to the Farsi version of UN publications such as the Millennium Development Goals, Image and Reality and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are given to the students. Other schools interested in participating in this programme are welcome to contact UNIC-Tehran.

Narjis Girls high School

1 November 2004

Payam-e-Moallem Boys Secondary School

WFP Representative Marius De Gay Fortman also spoke about WFP and its activities

8 November 2004

Azadi high School

22 November 2004

Mossa-Ibn Omran middle school

29 November 2004

Samaa middle school

6 December 2004

Shahid Pandi School

26 December 2004

Besat middle school

3 January 2005

Human Rights Day 10 December 2004

On the occasion of the Human Rights Day 2004, the UN funded Human Rights Studies Centre affiliated to Faculty of Law and Political Science of Tehran University organized a one-day seminar on Universalism of Human Rights and Cultural Values at the Center’s premises on 7 December 2004. UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Frederick Lyons delivered a speech and SG’s message translated by UNIC-Tehran. Also, UN posters and human rights information material were distributed to about 100 university professors and students as well as scholars who had participated in the conference. 

Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV) held a ceremony on the occasion of the Human Rights Day 2004 at its premises on Sunday 12 December. Mr. Taheri, Director, ODVV, inaugurated the ceremony and then Ms. Nazanin Ghaemmaghami, UNIC Reference Assistant delivered SG’s message in Farsi for about 50 university professors, scholars, students and NGO members. The two main speakers were Dr. Mohammad Reza Tajik, ِadviser to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Dr. Ziaei Bigdeli, of Allameh Tabatabaei University.

 Women in International Forums

UNIC-Director Sunil Narula addressed about 70 women, representing civil society, participating in a workshop on “Empowering Women NGOs’ Participation in International Forums” on the UN, its activities and its major funds and programmes. The workshop was organized by the Humanities and Cultural Research Centre, affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, on 25 November 2004.

Course introduces UN System

A five-week course introducing the United Nations system and its activities in the Islamic Republic of Iran with special focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was opened at Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) on 21 November 2004 by the acting UN Resident Coordinator and WFP Representative Mr. Marius de Gaay Fortman. About 160 students from government, non-governmental organizations, educational institutes and media are participating in the course. Senior national programme officers from the Resident Coordinator’s Office, UNIC, FAO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNODC, WFP, WHO and IOM will deliver lectures on the history and activities of their respective agencies. The School of International Relations (SIR) and the United Nations System in Iran have jointly sponsored the course.

Press Conference on Earthquake Risk Management

United Nations Information Center in Tehran organized a press conference for Mr. Hamid Nazari, Liaison Officer of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on 9 November 2004 to brief journalists about the upcoming international seminar in Tehran on “Policies and Practices for Earthquake Risk Management in Urban Areas” from 16-18 November 2004.

United Nations Day 2004 Ceremonies

The 59th UN day was marked by the formal inauguration of the UN Common Premises Building by the Director General of Economic Affairs and International Specialized Agencies in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bozorgmehr Ziaran. UN Resident Coordinator Frederick Lyons also delivered a speech and read the Secretary-General’s message on the UN day. More than 200 guests and UN staff members attended the ceremony. Prior to the inauguration, UNIC-Tehran organized a joint press conference of all UN heads of agencies In the UN Common Premises building. The UN officials who participated in the press conference were: UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative Frederick Lyons, UNESCO Representative Abdin Salih, UN Population Fund Representative Mohammad Said Abdel-Ahad, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Representative Philippe Lavanchy, UN Information Centre Director Sunil Narula, UN Industrial Development Organization Representative Jean-Luc Bernard, UN Office on Drugs and Crime Representative Roberto Arbitrio, World Food Programme Representative Marius de Gaay Fortman, World Health Organization specialist Ehsanullah Tarin, UNICEF Deputy Representative Jan-Pieter Kleijburg, Food and Agriculture Organization Officer-in-Charge Ali Hakimi.

At a separate event to mark UN Day, UNIC Director Sunil Narula, delivered a speech on UN’s role in Kosovo. The Iranian Association of UN Studies (UNA) organized the ceremony at the Tehran University Club. Dr. Kazen Motamed Nejad, Professor of Communication Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, discussed the importance of information and communications science in the modern world and traced its history over the past 50 years. He also spoke about the World Summit for Information Society, in which he had participated last year. About 100 university professors and students participated in this event.

On 25 October, two groups of students visited UNIC-Tehran office. About 30 students from a high school in Tehran, met the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Frederick Lyons, who spoke to them about the UN in general, and the UN’s activities in Iran and the Millennium Development Goals, in particular. They were also shown a film about UN activities around the world. The second group, comprising of post-graduate students of international relations from Tehran University were briefed about peacekeeping operations. A lively question and answer session between the students and the UN officials followed at the end of both the briefings.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

UNIC Director, Mr. Sunil Narula and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Yuxue Xue presented prizes and letters of appreciation to eight individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the promotion of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), specially poverty alleviation, at a ceremony marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty at Shaghayegh Hall in Tehran on 20 October 2004. Mr. Xue delivered the Secretary-General’s message on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2004 for the participants. UNDP and Iran’s National Youth Organization (NYO) jointly organized the ceremony.

Press Conference After Afghan Presidential Election

  A press conference after the end of the polling for the Afghan Presidential election was organized at the UN Common Premises on 10 October. The UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Frederick Lyons, the Head of the IOM-OCRV Regional Office in Tehran, Mr. Craig Jenness, the Senior Afghan Advisors for IOM-OCRV, Mr. Mohammad Fayyaz and Ms. Liza Ghobar, the Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Liaison Office in Tehran, Mr. Andres Smith Serrano addressed the press conference.

Press Conference Before Afghan Presidential Election

  UNIC-Tehran organized a press conference for the Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Out of Country Registration and Voting (OCRV), Mr. Peter Erben and the head of the IOM-OCRV Regional Office in Tehran, Mr. Craig Jenness about the Afghan presidential elections and out of country voting operation for Afghans living in Iran on 5 October at the UN Common Premises in Tehran. Along with Mr. Erben and Mr. Jenness, others who participated in the press conference were Senior Afghan Advisors for IOM-OCRV, Mr. Mohammad Fayyaz and Ms. Liza Ghobar, the Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Liaison Office in Tehran, Mr. Andres Smith Serrano.

Chess Tournament - International Day of Peace  2004

  On the occasion of the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2004, UNIC-Tehran, in cooperation with the other UN agencies in Iran and the Chess Federation of Iran, organized a three-day chess tournament for children upto the age of 10. The two categories of the tournament were: between the ages of 8 to 10 and below the age of 8. The theme of this year’s day was “Peace through Sports”. About 120 children participated in the competition. At the concluding session of the tournament on 21 September, the UN Secretary-General’s message on the International Day of Peace 2004, was read to the children participating in the tournament and their parents. During the ceremony, WFP Representative, Mr. Marius de Gaay Fortman and the acting head of the Chess Federation of Iran, Mr. Hossein Assadzade addressed the children. Representatives from the Office of the Resident Coordinator, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), were present at the ceremony. The top three winners in the two categories received prizes, while all the other participants received gifts from the UN agencies. The competition was held at the Chess Federation of Iran from 19 to 21 September 2004

Meeting of Civil Society Organizations on MDGs

  On 5 September 2004, more than 100 members of civil society organizations came together to study the realization of Millennium Development Goals in Iran but also to see how they can work together to realize these goals. The meeting was organized by the House of Culture and Sustainable Development, a Tehran-based NGO, and its two other partners from the private sector: Iranian Industries Confederation and Omid Group for Millennium, in cooperation with the United Nations Information Center in Tehran (UNIC). The meeting was held in Tehran at Nezami Ganjavi Hall (Haft Gonbad). From the United Nations, UNIC Director Mr. Sunil Narula, UNIC national Information Officer Mr. Mohammad Rajai-Mohgadam, UNDP Programme Officer Mr. Ahmad Salari and Mr Amir Hossein Barmaki from the Office of UN Resident Coordinator attended the meeting. Mr. Narula inaugurated the meeting by his speech.

 The Meeting on 5 September was a wrap-up of activities that were done during the previous months by about 80 non-governmental organizations interested in realizing the Millennium Development Goals. Eight working groups were created, one for each MDG, and the participating non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worked on each of the goals, commented on the scope of the goals and what needed to be done to facilitate the realization of the goals.

 A report on Iranian Civil Society’s Action on the Millennium Development Goals was prepared by the House of Culture and Sustainable Development which was sent to the UN Headquarters for distribution at DPI/NGO Conference 8-10 September 2004.

UN Staff members in Iran commemorate victims of Baghdad bomb blast

To commemorate the attack on the UN Headquarters in Baghdad on 19th August 2003 and to remember the loss of the 22 people who died in it, the United Nations staff members in the Islamic Republic of Iran participated in a memorial function on 19th August 2004. The programme started with a brief speech by the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Frederick Lyons, followed by a minute’s silence in memory of the UN colleagues who died in Baghdad. Then Mr. Lyons read the UN Secretary-General’s message on the ‘First Anniversary of the Attack on UN Headquarters in Baghdad’. The function closed with the screening of a five-minute video film called “A Tribute to the Team”, produced by the UN Department of Public Information. The function was held in the UNICEF Conference Hall.

 International Youth Day 2004

The International Youth Day was celebrated at Milad Hall on 12 August 2004 in which more than 2000 youth participated. The function was held at the Tehran International Trade Fair Ground. The ceremony was sponsored by National Youth Organization, in cooperation with the UN External Relations Theme Group, began with the message of President Mohammad Khatami being read by Advisor to President and Head of National Youth Organization Mr. Rahim Ebadi. UN Resident Coordinator Frederick Lyons delivered the Secretary-General’s message. The programme included a prize distribution ceremony to outstanding youth for their efforts in fields such as sports, science, social activities and so on. The ceremony continued until midnight with a concert by singer Mohammad Isfahani.    

 Poster Exhibition on MDGs

  The United Nations External Relations Theme Group held a poster exhibition on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at Martyr Avini Gallery of Bahman Cultural Centre (BCC) in southern Tehran from 27 July to 5 August 2004. More than 70 posters on issues such as eradication of poverty, education, promotion of gender equality, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health, fight against HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability and global partnership on development have on display for the public.

Launch of Human Development Report 2004

  On the occasion of launching of UNDP Human Development Report 2004     under the theme of “Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World”, UNIC in cooperation with UNDP office in Tehran organized a press conference for UNDP Resident Representative a.i. Mr.Yuxue Xue and UNESCO Programme Specialist Ms. Junko Taniguchi at UN building on Thursday 15 July 2004. 

17th Tehran International Book Fair

   This year the UN booth in the 17th Tehran International Book Fair was hugely successful as large crowds visited it over a period of 11 days (2-13 May 2004). The fair, 17th in the series since the 1979 Revolution, was inaugurated on 2 May 2004 by President Mohammad Khatami. Members of the UN External Relations Theme Group namely UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNFPA, UNODC, FAO, WHO and WFP, under the leadership of UNIC-Tehran displayed and distributed their publications and information materials at the fair. It was a good opportunity to inform people about MDGs by putting a big banner on the wall of the booth containing the 8 main goals in Farsi. Among Iranian celebrities who visited UN booth were Adviser to President Khatami, Dr. Hassan Ghafourifard, former Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance and Head of Centre for Dialogue Among Civilizations, Dr. Ataollah Mohajerani, and a number of chancellors of Iranian universities. It was a privilege that UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Frederick Lyons and WFP Representative Mr. Marius Fortman also visited the booth.

International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda

  International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda was commemorated jointly by UNIC-Tehran and Faculty of Law and Political Science of Tehran University in the presence of Dr. Dorodian, Dean of Faculty of Law and Political Science of Tehran University on Wednesday 7 April 2004 at the Allameh Morteza Ansari Hall of Tehran University where the Secretary-General delivered his landmark lecture on human rights in 1997. After UNIC Officer-in-Charge Mohammad R. Moghadam who delivered the SG’s message on the10th Anniversary of the Genocide in Rwanda, sharp at 12:00 O’clock all participating Tehran University professors, students, staff members along with journalists and UNIC-Tehran’s staffers observed one minute of silence in memory of the victims of Rwanda genocide. Afterwards, Professor Nasrin Mossafa delivered a lecture on Rwanda Genocide.

International Women’s Day 2004

  The UN Theme Group on External Relations, chaired by UNIC-Tehran, in cooperation with NGOs: House of Culture and Sustainable Development, Institute for Women’s Studies and Research as well as Family Planning Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran commemorated the International Women’s Day at Banoo Cultural Centre on Tuesday 9 March. Some 150 guests participated in the ceremony which was opened by UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Frederick Lyons’ remarks on UN system’s efforts on promoting women’s status in the Islamic Republic of Iran. A large number UN promotional items related to gender issues, women’s rights, reproductive health, empowerment of women, HIV/AIDS, women’s health, refugee women, Millennium Development Goals (MDG) etc. were distributed among the participants.

Seminar of Iranian Scientific Associations

  On Thursday 29 January 2004, UNIC-Officer-in-Charge Mohammad R. Moghadam delivered a lecture on DPI’s relations with NGOs during the Fifth Seminar of Iranian Scientific Associations which was attended by the First Vice-President, Mr. Mohammad Reza Aref, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning Mr. Ali Abdulalizadeh and a number of senior government officials and NGO representatives at the Shahid Mottahhari Hall of Associate Professor Training University (APTU).