Islamic Republic of Iran Welfare Organization held a ceremony marking International Day of Disabled Persons on 3 December 2006. The Director of the Organization Dr. Abolhasan Faghih delivered a speech and disabled persons performed different programmes. UNIC Reference Assistant Ms. Nazanin Ghaemamghami read SG’s message on the occasion.

UNIC NIO Moghadam delivered SG’s message on the International Day for the Elimination Violence against Women during a ceremony organized by an NGO called Rahyab (Pathfinder) Women and Children Institute on 26 November 2006. Then Professor and Attorney at Law and Legal Advisor Ms. Roza Gharachorlou delivered her speech on reviewing violence against women according to human rights international norms and documents, emphasizing on violence against women in Iran and the report by UN human rights rapporteur on violence against women Ms. Yakin Irtuk on the situation of violence against women in Iran. Ms. Gharacharlou’s lecture was followed by a Q and A session.

The Centre for Human Rights Studies affiliated to University of Tehran in cooperation with UNIC-Tehran held a two-day workshop on the subject of United Nations Documents and Publications and Research Options on the UN Website on November 21-22. About 40 masters students of human rights from the University of Tehran, Allameh Tabatabai University, Mofid University and Shahid Beheshi University participated in the workshop. The Director of the Centre Dr. Seyed Ali Sadat Akhavi and the National Project Director Dr. Nasrin Mosaffa opened the workshop. UNIC Librarian Ms. Nazanin Ghaemmaghami-Farahani, introduced some UNIC library documents and publications on human rights. She then briefed the students on the UN documentation and research options on the UN Website and other UN databases such as United Nations Bibliographic Information System (UNBIS) and Official documents of the United Nations (ODS). The students also did some practical training on retrieving documents on the UN Website. As part of the workshop the students visited UNIC library and the Centre’s Director Mr. Sunil Narula spoke to them about the newly created Human Rights Council. UN films entitled “Year in Review 2006” and “The United Nations: Working for us all” were also screened for the students. The workshop was part of UNDP supported project on national capacity building for the promotion of human rights.

Due to the UN Day coinciding with Eid Al Fitr holidays in Iran, UNIC organized a joint press conference in which all heads of UN agencies and funds stationed in Iran participated at the Mellal (Nations) Cultural Centre on 30 October 2006. The press conference received remarkable coverage in both the print and electronic media, including the Iranian TV News Network 6 and Young Journalists’ Club (affiliated to IRIB Radio and TV). VOA Persian TV and Radio in its Wednesday 1 November 2006 also covered the press conference focusing on remarks made by UNAIDS Country Officer. Also, UNIC as the leading agency of UNCG-Iran organized a ceremony marking the 61st UN Anniversary as well as a four-day UN photo and poster exhibition at the Mellal (Nations) Cultural Centre. During the inauguration of the exhibition, the UN Resident Coordinator read the SG’s message. The Director General of Political and International Department of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affair Mr. Hamid Baidinejad delivered a message on behalf of the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Aragchi. In his remarks, he thanked UNIC for promoting and advocating UN in Iran. A large number of government officials including journalists, 2 MPs, NGO members and foreign diplomats stationed in Tehran attended the ceremony.

UNIC-Tehran’s joint programme with Iranian Association of UN Studies called ‘Review and impact of world politics on the United Nations’ activities: A look at Rwanda tragedy’, was finally held at Sheikh Morteza Ansari Hall of the Tehran University’s Faculty of Law and Political Science on 18 October 2006. Posters and invitation cards were prepared and sent to the guests prior to the ceremony. A large number of audience, mainly academics, attended the ceremony which began with a lecture by Professor Nasrin Mossafa followed by the screening of the documentary film ‘Shake Hands with the Devil’. Then UNIC Director Sunil Narula delivered his speech on the UNAMIR as well as the lessons learned from the Rwanda genocide. The three-hour programme continued with lectures by Dr. Mohsen Abollahi, member of the chair of human rights, peace and democracy from Shahid Beheshti University on the historical reasons leading up to the genocide in Rwanda, Dr. Sattar Azizi from Bouali Sina University in Hamedan (Western Iran) on legal aspects of the Rwanda genocide and Amir Saed Vakil, an international law student from Allameh Tabatabaee University on the Rwanda Tribunal. Finally Dr. Ibrahim Beigzade of Shahid Beheshti University summarized the outcome of the lectures. The programme ended with an Iftar reception.

On the occasion of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October 2006, Iranian Association of Women’s Studies (IAWS), held a ceremony, focusing on women heads of households. After a welcome remark by Director of the IAWS Professor Nasrin Mossafa, UNIC Director Sunil Narula read SG’s message on the Day. Then Director General of Family Department of the Welfare Organization Mr. Parviz Zarei delivered his lecture on women heads of households and answered the participants’ questions. Representatives from a number of NGOs also delivered speeches at the ceremony. Iranian TV News Network 6 interviewed UNIC Director on issues related to poverty eradication as well as SG’s message.

UNIC-Director Sunil Narula delivered a lecture on UN peacemaking and peace building operations for some 16 graduate students along with their Professor Dr. Nasri Mossafa at UNIC on 8 October 2006. The programme was followed by a question and answer session.

UNIC-Director Sunil Narula delivered SG’s message on the International Day of Peace during a ceremony held at the Tehran University’s Centre for Graduate International Studies on 24 September 2006. A Professor of Tehran University and member of UN International Law Commission, Dr. Jamshid Momtaz delivered a speech analyzing the UNSC resolution 1701.

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.

On behalf of UNCG-Iran, UNIC Reference Assistant Ms. Ghaemmaghami organized an information desk for the UN Representatives’ meeting with the Iranian MPs (Heads of Parliament Commissions) at Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) on 31 August 2006.

As part of the long term plan of the United Nations Communications Group-Iran, led by UNIC, to publicize and enhance public knowledge about MDGs in Iran, a MDGs poster exhibition was organized at Dokhtaran (Girls) Cultural Centre, in western Tehran from 27 August to 7 September 2006. A large number of visitors, mostly young visitors, viewed the exhibition. MDGs flyer in Persian were also given to the visitors.

Six Students from Ferdosi University-Mashad visited UNIC-Tehran on 12 July 2006. UNIC National Information Officer Mr. Moghadam briefed them on the UN system, the reform process and the MDGs as well as UNIC activities. Reference Assistant Ms. Ghaemmaghami also briefed them on library services. At the end there was a Q & A session.

UNIC-NIO Moghadam (First from left) delivered SG’s message on the Int’l Day in Support of Victims of Torture for some 55 social advisors and psychologists working at different government organizations at a ceremony marking the Day in Welfare College on Tuesday 27 June 2006.

UNIC organized a press conference on High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS with participation of UN Resident Coordinator Knut Ostby, UNAIDS Country Officer Hamid Reza Setayesh, UNICEF and UNAIDS Theme Group Chairman Christian Salazar as well as UNIC-Director Sunil Narula at UN Conference Room on 6 June 2006.

UNIC-Director Sunil Narula delivered a lecture on the Human Rights Council at Avecinna (Ibn sina) University in the historic city of Hamedan, western Iran on 22 May 2006. More than 200 students and faculty attended the lecture. His lecture was followed by a Q and A session. Copies of UDHR, UN Charter, 60 Ways the UN Makes a Difference, MDG flyer, Human Rights Today: A UN Priority and Basic Facts were given to participants.

Organisation for Defending Victims of Violence, an NGO, observed the International Day of Families with a panel discussion on family matters which was kicked off with the reading of the Secretary-General’s message by the UNIC Director Sunil Narula. The participants in the panel discussion, attended by about 30 people were University professor Dr. Jaleh Shaditalab, Head of Family Court Mr. Abbas Jaafari, Member of Centre for Delinquents of the Judicial Development Organization Dr. Amir Hamzeh Zeinali and Psychiatrist Dr. Zhamak Moddaressi…..

In order to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2006, Iranian Association of Women’s Studies organized a ceremony at Tehran University’s Club on Tuesday May 16. As the first speaker Professor Nasrin Mossaffa elaborated on the Day and then UNIC National Information Officer Mohammad Moghadam delivered the Secretary-General’s message. Dr. Shokouh Navabinejad delivered a lecture on 'Good Family in the Age of Globalization' and then answered the participants’ questions. The programme ended with presentations of two women who were members of the Iran-Philippines Friendship Association on 'Family and Traditions, A Look at East Asia: The Philippines'.

The Today Mothers Institute held a ceremony to mark the International Day of Families on 15 May 2006. Some 60 people from civil society and government participated in the programme. Ms. Nazanin Ghaemmaghami, UNIC librarian read Secretary-General’s message, followed by Professor Nooshafarin Ansari who urged the participants to give a thought to issues related to families. 

Thirty two teachers from district 15 of Tehran visited UNIC-Tehran on 17 May 2006. UNIC National Information Officer Mr. Moghadam briefed them on UN activities, the reforms process, MDGs as well as UNIC’s activities and services. He also answered their questions.

Seventeen teachers from district 7 of Tehran visited UNIC-Tehran on 14 May 2006. UNIC National Information Officer Mr. Moghadam briefed them on UN activities, the reforms process, MDGs as well as UNIC’s activities and services. He also answered their questions.

The United Nations Communications Group - Iran set up a booth during the 19th Tehran International Book Fair held from 3 to 13 May 2006. A large number of people visited the UN booth where UN information materials, reports and posters were displayed and distributed to those who came to the booth free of charge. The agencies represented in the UN booth were UNIC, FAO, UNESCO, UNHCR, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNIDO, UNAIDS, WFP, UNODC, UNDP, and IOM. UNIC was the lead agency in setting up the booth with the support of the Resident Coordinator’s office. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the fair on 3 May. The Cultural Advisor to President Ahmadinejad and General Director of the National Library and Archives of Iran Mr. Aliakbar Ashari also visited the UN booth.

Fourteen teachers from district 11 of Tehran visited UNIC-Tehran on 25 April 2006. UNIC-Director Sunil Narula and UNIC National Information Officer Mr. Moghadam briefed them on UN activities, the reforms process, MDGs as well as UNIC’s activities and services. Thay also answered their questions.

On the occasion of the first International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, 4 April 2006, UNIC organized a joint press conference. The Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Director of the Centre for Cooperation in Mine Clearance in Iran Dr. Shirin Ebadi, UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Knut Ostby and Director of UN Information Centre Mr. Sunil Narula at UN Building in Tehran, participated in it. She urged the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to join the Ottawa convention on the Prohibition on the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines

UNIC-Tehran displayed and distributed UN publications and posters in Persian and English on MDGs and activities of UN Agencies in the Islamic Republic of Iran during a day long meeting of the UN System in Iran and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to review progress in the Untied Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The event was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) on 5 March 2006. The Centre also organized a joint press conference, addressed by UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Knut Ostby and Director General of the Office of the Special and International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ishaq Alehabib.

Seventeen teachers from district 6 of Tehran visited UNIC-Tehran on 01 March 2006. UNIC Reference Assistant Ms. Nazanin Ghaemmaghami  briefed them on UN activities, the reforms process, MDGs as well as UNIC’s activities and services. He also answered their questions.

In cooperation with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UNIC-Tehran organized a press conference for the UNODC Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Roberto Arbitro on launching of the Annual Report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) at UNODC building on 1 March 2006.

Thirteen teachers from district 11 of Tehran visited UNIC-Tehran on 05 February 2006. UNIC National Information Officer Mr. Moghadam briefed them on UN activities, the reforms process, MDGs as well as UNIC’s activities and services. He also answered their questions.

Eighteen teachers from district 10 of Tehran visited UNIC-Tehran on 23 January 2006. UNIC-Director Sunil Narula and UNIC National Information Officer Mr. Moghadam briefed them on UN activities, the reforms process, MDGs as well as UNIC’s activities and services. Thay also answered their questions. The teachers also toured the UN 60th Anniversary photo exhibition at the main UN Conference Hall.

Twenty nine teachers from district 13 of Tehran visited UNIC-Tehran on 2 January 2006. UNIC National Information Officer Mr. Moghadam briefed them on UN activities, the reforms process, MDGs as well as UNIC’s activities and services. He also answered their questions. The teachers also toured the UN 60th Anniversary photo exhibition at the main UN Conference Hall.