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The Sustainable Development Goals in I.R. Iran
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Iran:
Story
22 September 2021
Secretary-General’s Address to the General Assembly
Mr. President of the General Assembly, Excellencies,
I am here to sound the alarm: The world must wake up.
We are on the edge of an abyss — and moving in the wrong direction.
Our world has never been more threatened.
Or more divided.
We face the greatest cascade of crises in our lifetimes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has supersized glaring inequalities.
The climate crisis is pummeling the planet.
Upheaval from Afghanistan to Ethiopia to Yemen and beyond has thwarted peace.
A surge of mistrust and misinformation is polarizing people and paralyzing societies.
Human rights are under fire.
Science is under assault.
And economic lifelines for the most vulnerable are coming too little and too late — if they come at all.
Solidarity is missing in action — just when we need it most.
Perhaps one image tells the tale of our times.
The picture we have seen from some parts of the world of COVID-19 vaccines … in the garbage.
Expired and unused.
On the one hand, we see the vaccines developed in record time — a victory of science and human ingenuity.
On the other hand, we see that triumph undone by the tragedy of a lack of political will, selfishness and mistrust.
A surplus in some countries. Empty shelves in others.
A majority of the wealthier world vaccinated. Over 90 percent of Africans still waiting for their first dose.
This is a moral indictment of the state of our world.
It is an obscenity.
We passed the science test.
But we are getting an F in Ethics.
Excellencies,
The climate alarm bells are also ringing at fever pitch.
The recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was a code red for humanity.
We see the warning signs in every continent and region.
Scorching temperatures. Shocking biodiversity loss. Polluted air, water and natural spaces.
And climate-related disasters at every turn.
As we saw recently, not even this city — the financial capital of the world — is immune.
Climate scientists tell us it’s not too late to keep alive the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Climate Agreement.
But the window is rapidly closing.
We need a 45 per cent cut in emissions by 2030. Yet a recent UN report made clear that with present national climate commitments, emissions will go up by 16% by 2030.
That would condemn us to a hellscape of temperature rises of at least 2.7 degrees above pre-industrial levels. A catastrophe.
Meanwhile, the OECD just reported a gap of at least $20 billion in essential and promised climate finance to developing countries.
We are weeks away from the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow, but seemingly light years away from reaching our targets.
We must get serious. And we must act fast.
Excellencies,
COVID and the climate crisis have exposed profound fragilities as societies and as a planet.
Yet instead of humility in the face of these epic challenges, we see hubris.
Instead of the path of solidarity, we are on a dead end to destruction.
At the same time, another disease is spreading in our world today: a malady of mistrust.
When people see promises of progress denied by the realities of their harsh daily lives…
When they see their fundamental rights and freedoms curtailed…
When they see petty — as well as grand — corruption around them…
When they see billionaires joyriding to space while millions go hungry on earth…
When parents see a future for their children that looks even bleaker than the struggles of today...
And when young people see no future at all…
The people we serve and represent may lose faith not only in their governments and institutions — but in the values that have animated the work of the United Nations for over 75 years.
Peace. Human rights. Dignity for all. Equality. Justice. Solidarity.
Like never before, core values are in the crosshairs.
A breakdown in trust is leading to a breakdown in values.
Promises, after all, are worthless if people do not see results in their daily lives.
Failure to deliver creates space for some of the darkest impulses of humanity.
It provides oxygen for easy fixes, pseudo-solutions and conspiracy theories.
It is kindling to stoke ancient grievances. Cultural supremacy. Ideological dominance. Violent misogyny. The targeting of the most vulnerable including refugees and migrants.
Excellencies,
We face a moment of truth.
Now is the time to deliver.
Now is the time to restore trust.
Now is the time to inspire hope.
And I do have hope.
The problems we have created are problems we can solve.
Humanity has shown that we are capable of great things when we work together.
That is the raison d’être of our United Nations. But let’s be frank. Today’s multilateral system is too limited in its instruments and capacities, in relation to what is needed for effective governance of managing global public goods. It is too fixed on the short-term. We need to strengthen global governance. We need to focus on the future. We need to renew the social contract. We need to ensure a United Nations fit for a new era. That is why I presented my report on Our Common Agenda in the way I did. It provides a 360 degree analysis of the state of our world, with 90 specific recommendations that take on the challenges of today and strengthen multilateralism for tomorrow. Our Common Agenda builds on the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Climate Agreement. It is in line with the mandate I was given by the UN75 Declaration to seek a pathway to a better world. But to reach that land of our promises, we must bridge Great Divides. Excellencies, I see 6 Great Divides — 6 Grand Canyons — that we must bridge now. First, we must bridge the peace divide. For far too many around the world, peace and stability remain a distant dream. In Afghanistan, where we must boost humanitarian assistance and defend human rights, especially of women and girls. In Ethiopia, where we call on parties to immediately cease hostilities, ensure humanitarian access and create the conditions for the start of an Ethiopian-led political dialogue. In Myanmar, where we reaffirm unwavering support to the people in their pursuit of democracy, peace, human rights and the rule of law. In the Sahel, where we are committed to mobilizing international assistance for regional security, development and governance. In places such as Yemen, Libya and Syria, where we must overcome stalemates and push for peace.
In Israel and Palestine, where we urge leaders to resume a meaningful dialogue, recognizing the two-State solution as the only pathway to a just and comprehensive peace. In Haiti and so many other places left behind, where we stand in solidarity through every step out of crisis. Excellencies, We are seeing an explosion in seizures of power by force. Military coups are back. The lack of unity among the international community does not help. Geopolitical divisions are undermining international cooperation and limiting the capacity of the Security Council to take the necessary decisions. A sense of impunity is taking hold. At the same time, it will be impossible to address dramatic economic and development challenges while the world’s two largest economies are at odds with each other. Yet I fear our world is creeping towards two different sets of economic, trade, financial, and technology rules, two divergent approaches in the development of artificial intelligence — and ultimately the risk of two different military and geo-political strategies. This is a recipe for trouble. It would be far less predictable than the Cold War. To restore trust and inspire hope, we need cooperation. We need dialogue. We need understanding. We need to invest in prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We need progress on nuclear disarmament and in our shared efforts to counter terrorism. We need actions anchored in respect for human rights. And we need a new comprehensive Agenda for Peace. Excellencies, Second, we must bridge the climate divide. This requires bridging trust between North and South. It starts by doing all we can now to create the conditions for success in Glasgow. We need more ambition from all countries in three key areas — mitigation, finance and adaptation. More ambition on mitigation — means countries committing to carbon neutrality by mid-century — and to concrete 2030 emissions reductions targets that will get us there, backed up with credible actions now. More ambition on finance — means developing nations finally seeing the promised $100 billion dollars a year for climate action, fully mobilizing the resources of both international financial institutions and the private sector, too. More ambition on adaptation — means developed countries living up to their promise of credible support to developing countries to build resilience to save lives and livelihoods. This means 50 per cent of all climate finance provided by developed countries and multilateral development banks should be dedicated to adaptation. The African Development Bank set the bar in 2019 by allocating half of its climate finance to adaptation. Some donor countries have followed their lead. All must do so. My message to every Member State is this: Don’t wait for others to make the first move. Do your part. Around the world, we see civil society — led by young people — fully mobilized to tackle the climate crisis. The private sector is increasingly stepping up. Governments must also summon the full force of their fiscal policymaking powers to make the shift to green economies. By taxing carbon and pollution instead of people’s income to more easily make the switch to sustainable green jobs. By ending subsidies to fossil fuels and freeing up resources to invest back into health care, education, renewable energy, sustainable food systems, and social protections for their people. By committing to no new coal plants. If all planned coal power plants become operational, we will not only be clearly above 1.5 degrees — we will be well above 2 degrees.
The Paris targets will go up in smoke. This is a planetary emergency. We need coalitions of solidarity -- between countries that still depend heavily on coal, and countries that have the financial and technical resources to support their transition.
We have the opportunity and the obligation to act. Excellencies, Third, we must bridge the gap between rich and poor, within and among countries. That starts by ending the pandemic for everyone, everywhere. We urgently need a global vaccination plan to at least double vaccine production and ensure that vaccines reach seventy percent of the world’s population in the first half of 2022. This plan could be implemented by an emergency Task Force made up of present and potential vaccine producers, the World Health Organization, ACT-Accelerator partners, and international financial institutions, working with pharmaceutical companies. We have no time to lose. A lopsided recovery is deepening inequalities. Richer countries could reach pre-pandemic growth rates by the end of this year while the impacts may last for years in low-income countries. Is it any wonder? Advanced economies are investing nearly 28 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product into economic recovery. For middle-income countries, that number falls to 6.5 per cent. And it plummets to 1.8 per cent for the least developed countries — a tiny percentage of a much smaller amount. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the International Monetary Fund projects that cumulative economic growth per capita over the next five years will be 75 percent less than the rest of the world. Many countries need an urgent injection of liquidity.
I welcome the issuance of $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights by the International Monetary Fund. But these SDRs are largely going to the countries that need them least. Advanced economies should reallocate their surplus SDRs to countries in need. SDRs are not a silver bullet. But they provide space for sustainable recovery and growth. I renew also my call for a reformed and more equitable international debt architecture. The Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended to 2022 and should be available to all highly indebted vulnerable and middle-income countries that request it. This would be solidarity in action. Countries shouldn’t have to choose between servicing debt and serving people. With effective international solidarity, it would be possible at the national level to forge a new social contract that includes universal health coverage and income protection, housing and decent work, quality education for all, and an end to discrimination and violence against women and girls. I call on countries to reform their tax systems and finally end tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows. And as we look ahead, we need a better system of prevention and preparedness for all major global risks. We must support the recommendations of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. I have put forward a number of other proposals in Our Common Agenda — including an emergency platform and a Futures Lab. Excellencies, Fourth, we must bridge the gender divide. COVID-19 exposed and amplified the world’s most enduring injustice: the power imbalance between men and women. When the pandemic hit, women were the majority of frontline workers, first to lose their jobs, and first to put their careers on hold to care for those close to them. Girls were disproportionately hit by school closures that limit their development and increase the risk of abuse, violence and child marriage. Bridging the gender divide is not only a matter of justice for women and girls. It’s a game-changer for humanity. Societies with more equal representation are more stable and peaceful. They have better health systems and more vibrant economies. Women’s equality is essentially a question of power. We must urgently transform our male-dominated world and shift the balance of power, to solve the most challenging problems of our age. That means more women leaders in parliaments, cabinets and board rooms. It means women fully represented and making their full contribution, everywhere. I urge governments, corporations and other institutions to take bold steps, including benchmarks and quotas, to create gender parity from the leadership down. At the United Nations, we have achieved this among the Senior Management and our country team leaders. We will keep going until we have parity at every level. At the same time, we need to push back against regressive laws that institutionalize gender discrimination. Women’s rights are human rights. Economic recovery plans should focus on women, including through large-scale investments in the care economy. And we need an emergency plan to fight gender-based violence in every country. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a better world, we can and we must bridge the gender divide. Excellencies, Fifth, restoring trust and inspiring hope means bridging the digital divide. Half of humanity has no access to the internet. We must connect everyone by 2030.
This is the vision of my Roadmap for Digital Co-operation — to embrace the promise of digital technology while protecting people from its perils. One of the greatest perils we face is the growing reach of digital platforms and the use and abuse of data. A vast library of information is being assembled about each of us. Yet we don’t even have the keys to that library. We don’t know how this information has been collected, by whom or for what purposes. But we do know our data is being used commercially — to boost corporate profits. Our behavior patterns are being commodified and sold like futures contracts. Our data is also being used to influence our perceptions and opinions. Governments and others can exploit it to control or manipulate people’s behaviour, violating human rights of individuals or groups, and undermining democracy. This is not science fiction. This is today’s reality. And it requires a serious discussion. So, too, do other dangers in the digital frontier. I am certain, for example, that any future major confrontation — and heaven forbid it should ever happen — will start with a massive cyberattack. Where are the legal frameworks to address this? Autonomous weapons can today choose targets and kill people without human interference. They should be banned. But there is no consensus on how to regulate those technologies. To restore trust and inspire hope, we need to place human rights at the centre of our efforts to ensure a safe, equitable and open digital future for all. Excellencies, Sixth, and finally, we need to bridge the divide among generations.
Young people will inherit the consequences of our decisions — good and bad.
At the same time, we expect 10.9 billion people to be born by century’s end.
We need their talents, ideas and energies.
Our Common Agenda proposes a Transforming Education Summit next year to address the learning crisis and expand opportunities for today’s 1.8 billion young people.
But young people need more than support.
They need a seat at the table.
For this, I will appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations and create the United Nations Youth Office.
And the contributions of young people will be central to the Summit of the Future, as set out in Our Common Agenda. Young people need a vision of hope for the future. Recent research showed the majority of young people across ten countries are suffering from high levels of anxiety and distress over the state of our planet. Some 60 percent of your future voters feel betrayed by their governments.
We must prove to children and young people that despite the seriousness of the situation, the world has a plan — and governments are committed to implementing it. We need to act now to bridge the Great Divides and save humanity and the planet. Excellencies, With real engagement, we can live up to the promise of a better, more peaceful world. That is the driving force of our Common Agenda.
The best way to advance the interests of one’s own citizens is by advancing the interests of our common future. Interdependence is the logic of the 21st century. And it is the lodestar of the United Nations. This is our time. A moment for transformation. An era to re-ignite multilateralism. An age of possibilities. Let us restore trust. Let us inspire hope. And let us start right now. Thank you.
That is the raison d’être of our United Nations. But let’s be frank. Today’s multilateral system is too limited in its instruments and capacities, in relation to what is needed for effective governance of managing global public goods. It is too fixed on the short-term. We need to strengthen global governance. We need to focus on the future. We need to renew the social contract. We need to ensure a United Nations fit for a new era. That is why I presented my report on Our Common Agenda in the way I did. It provides a 360 degree analysis of the state of our world, with 90 specific recommendations that take on the challenges of today and strengthen multilateralism for tomorrow. Our Common Agenda builds on the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Climate Agreement. It is in line with the mandate I was given by the UN75 Declaration to seek a pathway to a better world. But to reach that land of our promises, we must bridge Great Divides. Excellencies, I see 6 Great Divides — 6 Grand Canyons — that we must bridge now. First, we must bridge the peace divide. For far too many around the world, peace and stability remain a distant dream. In Afghanistan, where we must boost humanitarian assistance and defend human rights, especially of women and girls. In Ethiopia, where we call on parties to immediately cease hostilities, ensure humanitarian access and create the conditions for the start of an Ethiopian-led political dialogue. In Myanmar, where we reaffirm unwavering support to the people in their pursuit of democracy, peace, human rights and the rule of law. In the Sahel, where we are committed to mobilizing international assistance for regional security, development and governance. In places such as Yemen, Libya and Syria, where we must overcome stalemates and push for peace.
In Israel and Palestine, where we urge leaders to resume a meaningful dialogue, recognizing the two-State solution as the only pathway to a just and comprehensive peace. In Haiti and so many other places left behind, where we stand in solidarity through every step out of crisis. Excellencies, We are seeing an explosion in seizures of power by force. Military coups are back. The lack of unity among the international community does not help. Geopolitical divisions are undermining international cooperation and limiting the capacity of the Security Council to take the necessary decisions. A sense of impunity is taking hold. At the same time, it will be impossible to address dramatic economic and development challenges while the world’s two largest economies are at odds with each other. Yet I fear our world is creeping towards two different sets of economic, trade, financial, and technology rules, two divergent approaches in the development of artificial intelligence — and ultimately the risk of two different military and geo-political strategies. This is a recipe for trouble. It would be far less predictable than the Cold War. To restore trust and inspire hope, we need cooperation. We need dialogue. We need understanding. We need to invest in prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We need progress on nuclear disarmament and in our shared efforts to counter terrorism. We need actions anchored in respect for human rights. And we need a new comprehensive Agenda for Peace. Excellencies, Second, we must bridge the climate divide. This requires bridging trust between North and South. It starts by doing all we can now to create the conditions for success in Glasgow. We need more ambition from all countries in three key areas — mitigation, finance and adaptation. More ambition on mitigation — means countries committing to carbon neutrality by mid-century — and to concrete 2030 emissions reductions targets that will get us there, backed up with credible actions now. More ambition on finance — means developing nations finally seeing the promised $100 billion dollars a year for climate action, fully mobilizing the resources of both international financial institutions and the private sector, too. More ambition on adaptation — means developed countries living up to their promise of credible support to developing countries to build resilience to save lives and livelihoods. This means 50 per cent of all climate finance provided by developed countries and multilateral development banks should be dedicated to adaptation. The African Development Bank set the bar in 2019 by allocating half of its climate finance to adaptation. Some donor countries have followed their lead. All must do so. My message to every Member State is this: Don’t wait for others to make the first move. Do your part. Around the world, we see civil society — led by young people — fully mobilized to tackle the climate crisis. The private sector is increasingly stepping up. Governments must also summon the full force of their fiscal policymaking powers to make the shift to green economies. By taxing carbon and pollution instead of people’s income to more easily make the switch to sustainable green jobs. By ending subsidies to fossil fuels and freeing up resources to invest back into health care, education, renewable energy, sustainable food systems, and social protections for their people. By committing to no new coal plants. If all planned coal power plants become operational, we will not only be clearly above 1.5 degrees — we will be well above 2 degrees.
The Paris targets will go up in smoke. This is a planetary emergency. We need coalitions of solidarity -- between countries that still depend heavily on coal, and countries that have the financial and technical resources to support their transition.
We have the opportunity and the obligation to act. Excellencies, Third, we must bridge the gap between rich and poor, within and among countries. That starts by ending the pandemic for everyone, everywhere. We urgently need a global vaccination plan to at least double vaccine production and ensure that vaccines reach seventy percent of the world’s population in the first half of 2022. This plan could be implemented by an emergency Task Force made up of present and potential vaccine producers, the World Health Organization, ACT-Accelerator partners, and international financial institutions, working with pharmaceutical companies. We have no time to lose. A lopsided recovery is deepening inequalities. Richer countries could reach pre-pandemic growth rates by the end of this year while the impacts may last for years in low-income countries. Is it any wonder? Advanced economies are investing nearly 28 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product into economic recovery. For middle-income countries, that number falls to 6.5 per cent. And it plummets to 1.8 per cent for the least developed countries — a tiny percentage of a much smaller amount. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the International Monetary Fund projects that cumulative economic growth per capita over the next five years will be 75 percent less than the rest of the world. Many countries need an urgent injection of liquidity.
I welcome the issuance of $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights by the International Monetary Fund. But these SDRs are largely going to the countries that need them least. Advanced economies should reallocate their surplus SDRs to countries in need. SDRs are not a silver bullet. But they provide space for sustainable recovery and growth. I renew also my call for a reformed and more equitable international debt architecture. The Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended to 2022 and should be available to all highly indebted vulnerable and middle-income countries that request it. This would be solidarity in action. Countries shouldn’t have to choose between servicing debt and serving people. With effective international solidarity, it would be possible at the national level to forge a new social contract that includes universal health coverage and income protection, housing and decent work, quality education for all, and an end to discrimination and violence against women and girls. I call on countries to reform their tax systems and finally end tax evasion, money laundering and illicit financial flows. And as we look ahead, we need a better system of prevention and preparedness for all major global risks. We must support the recommendations of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. I have put forward a number of other proposals in Our Common Agenda — including an emergency platform and a Futures Lab. Excellencies, Fourth, we must bridge the gender divide. COVID-19 exposed and amplified the world’s most enduring injustice: the power imbalance between men and women. When the pandemic hit, women were the majority of frontline workers, first to lose their jobs, and first to put their careers on hold to care for those close to them. Girls were disproportionately hit by school closures that limit their development and increase the risk of abuse, violence and child marriage. Bridging the gender divide is not only a matter of justice for women and girls. It’s a game-changer for humanity. Societies with more equal representation are more stable and peaceful. They have better health systems and more vibrant economies. Women’s equality is essentially a question of power. We must urgently transform our male-dominated world and shift the balance of power, to solve the most challenging problems of our age. That means more women leaders in parliaments, cabinets and board rooms. It means women fully represented and making their full contribution, everywhere. I urge governments, corporations and other institutions to take bold steps, including benchmarks and quotas, to create gender parity from the leadership down. At the United Nations, we have achieved this among the Senior Management and our country team leaders. We will keep going until we have parity at every level. At the same time, we need to push back against regressive laws that institutionalize gender discrimination. Women’s rights are human rights. Economic recovery plans should focus on women, including through large-scale investments in the care economy. And we need an emergency plan to fight gender-based violence in every country. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and build a better world, we can and we must bridge the gender divide. Excellencies, Fifth, restoring trust and inspiring hope means bridging the digital divide. Half of humanity has no access to the internet. We must connect everyone by 2030.
This is the vision of my Roadmap for Digital Co-operation — to embrace the promise of digital technology while protecting people from its perils. One of the greatest perils we face is the growing reach of digital platforms and the use and abuse of data. A vast library of information is being assembled about each of us. Yet we don’t even have the keys to that library. We don’t know how this information has been collected, by whom or for what purposes. But we do know our data is being used commercially — to boost corporate profits. Our behavior patterns are being commodified and sold like futures contracts. Our data is also being used to influence our perceptions and opinions. Governments and others can exploit it to control or manipulate people’s behaviour, violating human rights of individuals or groups, and undermining democracy. This is not science fiction. This is today’s reality. And it requires a serious discussion. So, too, do other dangers in the digital frontier. I am certain, for example, that any future major confrontation — and heaven forbid it should ever happen — will start with a massive cyberattack. Where are the legal frameworks to address this? Autonomous weapons can today choose targets and kill people without human interference. They should be banned. But there is no consensus on how to regulate those technologies. To restore trust and inspire hope, we need to place human rights at the centre of our efforts to ensure a safe, equitable and open digital future for all. Excellencies, Sixth, and finally, we need to bridge the divide among generations.
Young people will inherit the consequences of our decisions — good and bad.
At the same time, we expect 10.9 billion people to be born by century’s end.
We need their talents, ideas and energies.
Our Common Agenda proposes a Transforming Education Summit next year to address the learning crisis and expand opportunities for today’s 1.8 billion young people.
But young people need more than support.
They need a seat at the table.
For this, I will appoint a Special Envoy for Future Generations and create the United Nations Youth Office.
And the contributions of young people will be central to the Summit of the Future, as set out in Our Common Agenda. Young people need a vision of hope for the future. Recent research showed the majority of young people across ten countries are suffering from high levels of anxiety and distress over the state of our planet. Some 60 percent of your future voters feel betrayed by their governments.
We must prove to children and young people that despite the seriousness of the situation, the world has a plan — and governments are committed to implementing it. We need to act now to bridge the Great Divides and save humanity and the planet. Excellencies, With real engagement, we can live up to the promise of a better, more peaceful world. That is the driving force of our Common Agenda.
The best way to advance the interests of one’s own citizens is by advancing the interests of our common future. Interdependence is the logic of the 21st century. And it is the lodestar of the United Nations. This is our time. A moment for transformation. An era to re-ignite multilateralism. An age of possibilities. Let us restore trust. Let us inspire hope. And let us start right now. Thank you.
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Story
08 June 2020
Fighting COVID-19 as one
During Ramadan, the United Nations in the Islamic Republic of Iran has continued efforts to assist the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I extend my warmest wishes Eid-al-Fitr and I am sure that for many observing Ramadan was very different this year. COVID-19 has claimed over 320,000 lives worldwide, left us with a virus we still do not fully understand, and thrown us into the worst socio-economic crisis in almost a century,” said Ugochi Daniels, the UN Resident Coordinator in Iran.
Since the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Iran in February, UN agencies in the country quickly mobilized to support the national struggle against the outbreak. But the pandemic has caused a world crisis that will only be contained through large scale cooperation and collaboration. The UN in Iran is maximizing our global initiatives to sustain the Government’s efforts to fight the virus.
UN response in Iran – brief overview: UN in Iran has provided technical guidance and in-kind assistance to the Government, including the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable. Assistance includes but is not limited to:
Test kits, arterial blood gas analyzers and other medical supplies to more than 100 laboratories and hospitals in Iran.
Medicines to enable Iran to contribute data to the Solidarity Trial , a global UN-led study to identify already approved medicines’ effect on Coronavirus patients.
Over 76 tons of personal protective equipment for front line workers as well as professionals across Iran taking care of the elderly, children with disabilities, and other groups with special needs.
As Iran is the 6th largest refugee-hosting country in the world, the UN has provided hygiene items and food assistance to 31,000 most vulnerable refugees living in settlements and protection items for humanitarian service workers. The UN continues to provide psycho-social counseling and legal advice through helplines, as well as targeted, one-off cash assistance when a helping hand is urgently needed.
Other UN initiatives are supporting government efforts to protect and assist women, girls, the elderly, people living disabilities, drug users, parents, teachers and others.
It is now clear that the long-term effects of the pandemic will negatively impact the world economy for many years to come. On May 14, the UN updated its plans on how to expand global efforts to mitigate the rampant effects of the pandemic. The UN, released the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, issuing a US $6.7 billion appeal to stem the spread of the virus, distribute medicines and equipment, and protect millions of lives from the disease and accompanying impacts. As Iran is the tenth most COVID-19 affected country globally, it has been included in this global plan for continuous support.
UN in Iran acknowledges the Government’s socio-economic initiatives which are already providing relief and support to vulnerable households and small businesses. The UN is currently reinforcing and scaling up programmes to sustain recovery efforts. Apart from immediate relief for the most vulnerable in COVID-19 affected families, we will focus on empowering local capacity as well as generating livelihood opportunities.
“Globally, we can see that poverty is on the rise for the first time in decades. The only way for us to get through this crisis and come out stronger on the other side, is by working together. The UN in Iran will partner with our extremely generous donors, to be able to support and contribute to the government’s efforts. We will focus on inclusive, resilient and sustainable solutions and work hard leaving no one behind”, added Ms. Daniels, the UN Resident Coordinator.
***
Further information/requests for interviews:
Maria Dotsenko in Tehran: dotsenko@un.org +98 912 116 9948
Mohammad Rajai-Moghadam in Tehran; rajai-moghadam@un.org +98 912 105 3220
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Story
03 December 2021
UN facilitates Iran’s national vaccination plan – Resident Coordinator
“I am proud of the UN agencies accelerating its support – to date 15 million vaccines have landed in Tehran together with other medical supplies and much needed protection equipment through UN facilitation”, Priesner added.
Addressing a ceremony marking the 76th Anniversary of the United Nations at Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) on 1 December 2021, the Mr. Priesner charted the good cooperation with Government for now and the next five years and also stressed that the partnership goes back a long way when in 1950 the UN opened its first office.
“Today an impressive number of agencies - 18 – are testimony of our large scale cooperation,” he said.
Referring to Iran’s contributions to development and humanitarian sphere, he said hosting several million refugees and migrants as well as playing a significant role in stemming the flow of illicit drugs from Afghanistan to the world are just two examples.
A large number of foreign diplomats stationed in Tehran as well as government officials, NGO members and journalists attended the ceremony.
Deputy Foreign Minister and President of IPIS Dr. Hassan Sheykh al-Islami in his address said some 76 years ago the United Nations was created after a devastating war with the objectives of safeguarding international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and helping member states to solve international economic, social and cultural problems.
He said that the UN Day is the best framework for reminding us of the important role of the Organization in supporting the member states’ efforts for fulfilling the objectives of the UN Charter. The Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized that the United Nations as the most important manifestation of multilateralism, must pave the needed ways of all countries for solving their problems based on equal social, economic and cultural rights.
The ceremony continued by screening a video on UN achievements in Iran.
Then, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Representative Ms. Negar Gerami in her remarks said that the UN in Iran supported the government’s significant efforts to fight drug related crimes such as trafficking and abuse - addressing border control and investigation through training and improving prevention and treatment methods.
She said the UN has developed sustainable farming methods to avoid droughts and draining wetlands in Iran while promoting efficient water management and waste management, helping to reduce CO2 emissions.
“The UN also provided food assistance to thousands of refugee families and distributed hygiene- and dignity kits – always to those who needed it most,” Ms. Gerami said adding that last year the UN also covered the Universal Public Health Insurance for 120,000 refugees.
Gerami pointed out that through the UN efforts, over half a million refugee children were enrolled in national schools and we introduced “School Feeding” programmes for some of the most vulnerable of them benefitting both students and teachers.
Composer and university professor and setar player Mr. Keyvan Saket had kindly agreed to perform pro bono, and he received standing ovations after playing his beautiful piece for the audience.
The programme continued by a video message from President of Iranian Association for UN Studies (IAUNS) and University of Tehran Professor Dr. Nasrin Mosaffa.
She said for the past twenty years, IAUNS been spearheading research and scientific effort in both assessing the role of the UN in international politics and critical appraisal of the relationship between Islamic Republic of Iran and the UN.
“We are of the belief that both issues require diligent review and wise assessment in an expert and scientific way. We have benefited from active participations and cooperation of both the first UN and the second UN in our activities,” Dr. Mosaffa added.
She said that is the reason I am speaking to you with 20 years of experience in promoting activities to study the noble cause of United Nations from Iranian perspective, researching, training and leading awareness raising activities on the UN to provide expertise to our society in a scientific way. We believe that our aim in training next generation of researchers and experts to have a realistic assessment of global challenges while paying attention to inter-disciplinary and multidimensional nature of them alongside their history is a vital one.
Inspired by the UN charter and our national interest, Dr. Mosaffa said the Association provides a unique insight into dynamic research and training culture that creates a nexus between academia and policymakers.
“Its vital role has been recognised on international level through ECOSOC’s consultative status. It is on that basis that we believe Iran-UN relationship is important both regionally and globally. Insisting on adherence to the international law, the global pandemic, and refugee crises are examples of how this relationship could benefit from input by the third UN,” University of Tehran professor said.
UN Information Centre National Information Officer Mohammad Rajai-Moghadam briefed the participants on the preparation process of “United Nations and Iran Partnership” book.
Then, the UN Resident Coordinator, Stefan Priesner, Deputy Foreign Minister Sheykh al-Islami and Managing Director of Etella’at Institute Hojatoleslam Seyyed Mahmood Doaei launched “United Nations and Iran Partnership” bilingual book.
At the end of the ceremony, Mr. Nima Ilat from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) who represented generation of young UN staff members in his statement said I can fully guarantee that my generation is committed to keep the world and all its beauties for the future; we will all thank you for doing the same!
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15 September 2022
How to Prepare for a Natural Disaster
Iran is located in a disaster-prone region, and faces many natural disasters every year; from storms and floods to earthquakes. In recent years, climate change has increased the probability, frequency and intensity of these disasters; tropical storms in Sistan and Baluchestan last year, and floods and sand and dust storms this year are just some examples. Hence, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) is a critical approach that should be adopted to ease the sufferings and decrease the cost of natural disasters for Iranians.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has a high capacity to deal with disasters on a large scale, and the United Nations in Iran has also continuously expressed its willingness to support the government in this area. Iran can benefit from international knowledge, expertise and lessons-learned in response to disasters, while also sharing its own knowledge with the international community. As a result, international cooperation can be a beneficial attempt to improve DRRM activities in Iran.
In order to facilitate such international engagement, on 6 September 2022, the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), in a meeting with the head of Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization (TDMMO), the Director of MFA Natural Disaster’s Office and head of the International Relations Department of the National Disaster Management Organization (NDMO) discussed international cooperation in the field of disaster management.
The participants reviewed challenges and capacities in response to disasters in order to strengthen international cooperation in this regard. Training for two Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Teams, the required items to equip the teams, as well as membership of Iran in the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) were discussed in the meeting. INSARAG is a network of disaster-prone and disaster-responding countries and organizations, which facilitate and coordinate the operations of USAR teams in the disaster zones, and has a critical role in disaster risk reduction and management. Iran can use this capacity, to reduce the costs of potential disasters and find sustainable solutions. As Iran has good capacity in search and rescue operations, it can also positively contribute to INSARAG. In this regard, supporting the participation of Iranian representatives in regional and global earthquake maneuvers, providing technical support to the TDMMO in response to disasters in the city of Tehran and exploring the possibility of providing needed equipment from potential donors were mentioned in the meeting as well. The operationalization of joint projects was another item in the meeting’s agenda.
Both NDMO and TDMMO, along with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) play crucial roles in Iran’s disaster management system. These organizations are both responsible for strategic planning in the pre-disaster, and executive actions in the post-disaster phases. For sure, the Iranian DRRM system can use technical knowledge, equipment’s and direct aids provided by the international community, and on the other hand, provide other countries with its own expertise. Therefore, facilitating international cooperation in this area is an important step, which UN has progressively taken.
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15 September 2022
UNICEF Exclusive Interview with Khabaronline
Up to 1.5 Million Afghans immigrated to Iran after coming to power of Taliban/COVAX didn’t reach its objective in equitable distribution of vaccines
There are children without proper access to water, education and health care and their lives are affected by crimes and sometimes they themselves commit the crime; different social harms threaten them. Poverty, addiction and diseases are there to find their victims and who is a better prey than vulnerable children and women. Those fleeing from a war or living in less advantaged areas are usually more prone to victimization. Education and health are basic rights of each human being, regardless of his/her race or ethnicity. Humans have basic rights that need to be secured and securing these rights cannot be made possible with endeavors of one government, one group, or one international organization, it requires joining hands towards one goal, i.e. to secure children’s rights, and that is why this year’s Humanitarian Day theme is “it takes a village.” In an interview with Khabaronline, Dr. Robin Nandy, UNICEF Representative in Iran explains why this day is chosen as the World Humanitarian Day. He believes that we all have to join hands to reduce the vulnerabilities of the children and women. COVID-19 and its impact on children and women is among other topics of this discussion. The complete interview follows.
Q. Why is today (19 August) named as World Humanitarian Day (WHD)”?
A. In 2003, an explosion happened in one of the centers of the UN in Baghdad, killing a number of UN staff including Mr. Sérgio Vieira de Mello, one of the senior officials of the UN humanitarian programs. Since then, 19 August is commemorated as World Humanitarian Day to pay tribute to the humanitarian UN workers who lost their lives in this incident. It is estimated that around 300 million people in the world are affected by crises and war and so do governments, people and NGOs that try to help them, therefore the theme of this year is “it takes a village”, which means we all have to join together to help these people, as only one organization cannot help on its own.
Q. You explained about the theme of 2022, that is “it takes a village”, and that everyone has to get involved to confront the crises, including governments, however many of these crises are created by governments themselves, e.g. wars … there are several examples of such wars in the Middle East. Given to WHD 2022 theme, what is your message to governments for such crises?
A. My message to governments is to avoid the occurrence of crises, as any crisis in a country will have incredible impact on communities. But if I want to give a message as Representative of UNICEF, my main concern in all these crises is definitely women and children, because these groups are the most vulnerable of all. Therefore, in the first place, the crisis should be avoided and secondly, if it happens, there should be a comprehensive response to the needs of the most vulnerable groups.
Q. What is your response in such crises?
A. In UNICEF, we look for a quick and comprehensive response to the needs of women and children from different aspects, including health and nutrition, WASH, protection against maltreatment, and of course education. In other words, we try to make sure that in a crisis, children can still continue their studies. In fact, what we do is to create a secure and protecting atmosphere for the children and women so that they are less affected by these crises.
Q. These crises affect the refugees as well, specially those fleeing from the war. Last year the government that took power in Afghanistan caused migration of many Afghans including women and children to Iran. Do you have any idea how many Afghans entered Iran?
A. The reality is that even before last year and Taliban’s takeover, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been hosting Afghans for several decades and it is estimated that before last August, there were 2 to 3 million Afghan refugees in Iran, however in the year Afghanistan faced the crisis, between 500,000 to 1.5 million new refugees entered Iran. I take the opportunity to appreciate the hospitality of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and of course along with the government’s support, the host community should be acknowledged for accepting refugees amongst themselves.
Q. How does UNICEF support Afghan refugees in Iran?
A. There is a coordination mechanism in the United Nations, which is not only for UNICEF, but also involves WHO, UNHCR and a few other agencies, that works in coordination with the MoI’s Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants(BAFIA) in Iran. We have different programs such as increasing the access of children and women to health and nutrition services, protecting them against maltreatment, support to increase their access to education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Of course, our support to Afghan refugee children and women generally covers the whole community; in other words, these refugees are living in the host community and therefore our programs cover all the children and women, part of them Afghans.
We try to strengthen the servicing systems in the country in order to respond to the demands of these refugees. People living in the border areas of Iran are also among the most vulnerable in the society, and when Afghan refugees join them via borders, the servicing system for this community including education and WASH will be under pressure. We try to strengthen the system so that more people can benefit from their services. In Iran, UNICEF cooperates with the Ministry of Health and nine other line ministries and we try to make the servicing systems shock resistant, as Iran is a country very much prone to natural disasters and it is crucial that systems are strengthened against such events, in a way that even during crises, the servicing could continue.
Q. As you said, you are trying to strengthen servicing systems to support Iranian and Afghan vulnerable children and women. For such supports, you may need to provide educational or health items to them. But on the other hand, Iran has been under sanctions for several years and has problems in importing such items, specially medicine. How has the sanctions impacted your interventions for the vulnerable groups?
A. The recent years have been very challenging for Iran. The impact of sanctions were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic along with economic situation, and this combination affected procurement of medical equipment and other items from global markets. In response to this issue, the UN designed a support package to contribute in different areas, e.g. what UNICEF did to dispatch COVID-19 vaccines to Iran through COVAX mechanism. About 16 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were imported to Iran, 1.6 to 2 million of which was for refugees and the rest were used for Iranian community.
UNICEF imported a series of other items such as cold chain equipment to keep the vaccines in proper conditions as well as the highest quality nebulizers for the children suffering from Cystic Fibrosis disease. We imported these devices at the request of the Ministry of Health, because due to sanctions it was not possible for the government to procure any. Also with the cooperation of UNICEF, EB bandages were also procured and delivered to the Ministry of Health, which was again impossible to procure due to sanctions. It is noteworthy to say that such humanitarian measures are not only limited to UNICEF, but all UN agencies including WHO, UNFPA, UNDP and others, collectively provide similar support.
Q. Do you remember when were the 16 million doses of COVID-19 imported to Iran?
A. The vaccines were gradually imported from mid-2020 to the first half of 2022.
Q. How do you assess the quality of services such as education and health to vulnerable groups in Iran, specially in border areas, compared to other countries in the world?
A. The health and education service provision systems in Iran are generally good and have made a lot of progress since 1990s, however you are right that this is not equal in all parts of the country, and there are certainly areas with higher deprivations. And that is exactly why UNICEF is here to support the government in service provision in such vulnerable areas that require more attention.
Q. Were the health and education services proper after COVID-19 pandemic?
A. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the education system of the country came under pressure, the schools were suddenly closed, children didn’t go to school and education became online in some areas, but in many areas, online education was not feasible. The truth is that in many of the border areas, the children could not continue their education virtually. From now on, we need to try to return those out of school children back to classes. This is the same for health services, if there are children that have not yet received their routine vaccinations, the conditions for their vaccination need to be provided. Also, the pandemic brought a lot of psychosocial problems to the children and adolescents, which in turn impacted our servicing system.
Q. You talked about capacity building to offer services to the vulnerable groups, specially at times of crisis, and you seem to believe that such servicing system should be shock resistance. Does the Iranian government’s measures and cooperation for capacity building meet your expectations so far?
A. Yes, we have a close cooperation with the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Capacity building towards turning shock resistant against probable crises has been the government’s request, which we support. We do our best to make the servicing system sustainable, which is the framework of our activities from 2023 to 2027, however the main pillars of our program will be response to crisis, strengthening servicing systems, economic revival, supporting health service systems after the pandemic as well as taking measures in water shortage. In this regard, we not only work closely with the government, but also with the communities, the IRCS and with the people, as really “it takes a village” to provide services to the vulnerable groups. It cannot be done only by one organization, but it requires collaboration.
Q. Sustainable programs and cooperation require statistics and data. You said you are in good terms with the government. Does the government of Iran provide you with the data about vulnerabilities that children and women face with?
A. You are right. We need accurate and disaggregated data and we are in touch with the government in this regard. We have very good collaboration with the Statistics Center of Iran, and provide them with global best practices and techniques for data collection in the area of children and women, as well as reading and interpreting such data in order to strengthen the data collection capacities. Right now, we have several programs in data monitoring with different ministries.
Q. Like you, I also think that humanitarian issues are transnational, therefore I would like to raise this question: we know that governments may not provide precise details and data, in order to show positive achievements. I ask you whether your organization verifies the data it receives from the government?
A. The data are categorized differently; some are regular data, such as the number of people enjoying health services each year. We also have periodic data, such as headcounts or census, but some countries have certain mechanisms for verification. Some countries use different types of data collection and compare the data, however what is more important than the data itself, is how to use the data. There are many countries that have lots of data, but do not apply those in planning. The important point is that even if the data is not 100% accurate, it can give an overall idea about the whole pathway ahead, and can be relied upon to plan accordingly. I think that several factors are important for the data: its accessibility, quality and accuracy, and proper application.
Q. Are you happy with the accessibility, quality and accuracy of the data your are provided with in Iran?
A. Yes, but there is always room for improvement, and it is the same for all countries. We as UNICEF support countries to better collect and analyze the data.
Q. Based on the data you have, what is the most important social harm threatening children in the Iranian community? I mean a social harm that is at a warning level?
A. We have an integrated approach to social harms. There are children that are affected by violation of law, children that witness a crime, and children that are even prone to committing a crim. In this regard, we work with several partners, including Prisons Organization, Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary, towards capacity building for these organizations on how to behave with each group of these children and what standards should be maintained.
Q. But you do not have any data about the impacts of witnessing or committing a crime on children?
A. As I already said, we really have a holistic approach. Our focus is supporting the children, no matter which of the child rights are violated. A harm is a harm and a child should enjoy all his rights. If a child right is violated in any area, it means that the child is at risk of harm.
Apart from the governments, the families and people in the society play an important role in dealing with any such harms and in fact the parents and the society are the first to react to the children’s harms and deprivation of their rights.
Q. How much are you in contact with the NGOs? Are they qualified and prepared to deal with the harms?
A. We have a long history of cooperation with IRCS and a few NGOs. About these organizations, the same points apply, that they should be resistant to probable shocks. If anything happens in the country, these NGOs are the first responders, even before the government enters the field.
Q. Let’s discuss about another area than the harms. I know that you are an epidemiologist. Today the world is struggling with a pandemic. What would happen to the world and COVID-19 eventually?
A. It is difficult to predict. COVID-19 is unstable by nature and it is probable that more variants will pops up in future. But the important point is that vaccination has prevented many deaths, although it was said from the beginning that vaccination can only prevent death and severe infections. Iran is facing the 7th wave at the time being. The number of infections are high, but the number of deaths is still low. Therefore, vaccination should be emphasized and encouraged, specially for the vulnerable groups.
Q. Today vaccines are not fairly distributed in the world. What is your opinion in this regard?
A. Yes, there is no equitable access to vaccines and that’s why COVAX mechanism was initiated. Of course it has been the same in the course of history. It has taken a long way from production of the first vaccines to mass production and maximum use. This is the same for COVID-19 vaccine, while with the COVAX mechanism we could help the poorer countries in the first year of pandemics, but it did not achieve its final goal and the equitable access to vaccines was not maintained as it was planned. Even many manufacturing companies could not enter the market. These are lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic for future.
Q. There are some countries like China that follow Zero COVID-19 strategy, and announce lockdown with the first signs and symptoms. And on the contrary, there are countries that have reduced protocols. Which way you prefer?
A. Well, complete lockdown has its own costs; during the first months of COVID-19, we saw the negative and psychological effects on the society when a whole country was quarantined and the country’s economy was paralyzed. Therefore, full quarantine is costly. We should be happy that vaccines could prevent a lot of deaths shortly after the outbreak. I think there should be a balance between the infections and the decisions made in the social health area to have the least damages and negative effects. Maybe the “best option” doesn’t exist, but the countries should only control the pandemic with the minimum impact.
Q. As the last question, it is one year from your assignment in Iran. Has your mindset changed to Iran before and after this one year?
A. 31 August is exactly one year that I have been in Iran. I am originally from India, and we share many commonalities with Iran. Before I came here, I had read books from Iranian great poets and what has very much impressed me is the hospitality of Iranians. I am comfortable here and this is admirable to me that Iranians are so much resistant against many problems such as the COVID-19 and economic problems, and yet they are still so civilized and cultivated.
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04 September 2022
UNHCR Exclusive Interview with Iran Newspaper
From long ago, the hospitality of us Iranians has been well known. Since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, during these many years, Afghans have sought asylum in Iran and have started living here. Now they love Iran like their own country. Their children study here and go to the university. They get married here and start families. The government and people of Iran have always done what they could to serve them with kindness. The latest example to prove this statement is the vaccination campaign to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the refugees were vaccinated just like all the Iranian citizens. Providing access to higher education, employment opportunities, and healthcare through the Universal Public Health Insurance for refugees are all proof of the hospitality of us Iranians. According to the data of the government, as of October 2022, Iran hosts 800,000 registered refugees ( Amayesh card holders). Of this number, approximately 780,000 are Afghan, and about 20,000 are Iraqi refugees . Also, around 586,000 Afghans possess passports and Iranian visas, including those who had Amayesh cards before and later received student visas to continue their university education. Of course, approximately 2.1 million Afghans live in the country without documentation. On World Humanitarian Day and Week, we had an interview with Ivo Freijsen, the representative for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which you can read below.
— We are in the World Humanitarian Week. Iran is a country that has hosted a high number of refugees for many years. Due to the war in Afghanistan for a long time, we have hosted our neighboring country's dear people and served them like Iranian citizens. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we treated them like Iranian nationals, regarding vaccination. What do you think about Iranian humanitarianism? How do you define the role of Iran in promoting the spirit of humanitarianism?
Iran is an exemplary country that has acted very well in hosting refugees and has been hosting them for a long time. Forty years have passed since Iran started hosting them [refugee]. As we have always said, Iran has had positive approaches toward refugees, we appreciate that, and we are honored to support Iran's efforts. In fact, Iran provides wide-ranging services for refugees: such as, basic healthcare services, education, and vocational trainings. And as you said, during the COVID-19 pandemic, those who were in Iran, whether the ones that had passports or the ones that had documentation and were [registered] refugees, received vaccination. We have always said that Iran has positive approaches toward refugees, and this is commendable and we are proud to support Iran's initiatives.
— Many international days are celebrated worldwide, only one of which is World Humanitarian Day. Please tell us about the importance of these days in general and World Humanitarian Week in particular.
I would say that every day should be the World Humanitarian Day, but some days should be explicitly named to bear a particular message. In recent years, many people have moved to[international] borders due to various conditions that have affected their lives and have become refugees in other countries. On World Refugee Day, there is an opportunity to remind other organizations that there are situations that force people to leave their homes and their countries. Therefore, we should have more cooperation in this area. However, we [ humanitarians] should not be the center of attention. It is the vulnerable people in need who should receive the attention, and we should provide [the needed] services to them.
In addition, governmental organizations, individuals from institutions, international NGOs, and ministries also support refugees. For instance, our employees support the refugees in Iran and have heavy responsibilities. Our offices in Mashhad, Shiraz, Esfahan, and Kerman are active, and we are managing refugee issues on a daily basis. We talk to [refugee] fathers, mothers, and children and assess their needs. Of course, we are not able to answer all their needs and [we] require support and funding , especially for people who need it the most. In fact, there are economic constraints alongside other issues. On this specific day, the people who support the refugees should be cherished.
— As the representative of the UNHCR in the Islamic Republic of Iran, please explain this agency's work, missions, and goals.
We need to create favorable environment for those people [refugees] who have recently entered the country or those who have been in Iran before. This means that they should be able to stay in Iran and not be returned to their own country because Afghanistan is still not safe. The main part of our work is to support the government to attend to the needs of refugees, we cooperate in the areas of registration, data collection, and provision of documents.
Moreover, as long as these people [refugees] are in the country, they need work. So, we should help them access the job market. For this purpose, we assist both the government and the relevant organizations. We are also involved in the area of education for children and adolescents, and even adults. We have vocational training programs so that refugees can first be trained and then start working. Another focus is the area of health and medical care. We believe that healthy refugees are productive and resilient, refugees can both be a helpful person in Iran and be beneficial to their country when the situation improves, and they can return. In short, I can say that three sectors are very important for us: access to aid, meeting basic needs, and livelihood, and we are always active in these areas and support the governments and organizations involved in them.
— How can the public support humanitarian actions? Many want to help but do not know much about humanitarian aid. What is your suggestion for them?
One does not need to be a professional humanitarian worker to support people in need.. Everyone can provide humanitarian support. Around us, there are always opportunities and situations where we can help others. If someone asks a question or needs some information, we could help them by answering. We can make a monetary donation, or if someone needs something, we can provide it. It is not always about money; one could work as an intern at humanitarian organizations or, more specifically, help privately. For example, if you're going to the supermarket and someone is waiting for your help, don't reject them. If someone needs help, definitely help them.
On the other hand, there are charity funds in different areas of the city, and you can provide your help through those funds. Meanwhile, there are also reputable organizations that you can transfer money to help target populations. The first things we should understand is why these people are in such situations. If someone, doesn't have money, , or a person is ill or has become a refugee, there is a reason behind it: we shouldn't see the individual as a problem. We should realize that these people are struggling due to special situations. I think it is most important to recognize the situation of these people. If we see them as a threat, no problem could be resolved . On the contrary, the situation will worsen, and we won't even be able to help. Finally, it will create xenophobia and cause distance between refugees and us [those who are not refugees].
It is especially important to understand refugees. We should realize that these people, like us, have many positive potentials. Refugees are not people who sit idle in a corner doing nothing. On the contrary, refugees want access to the job market, employment, and education, in order to help the societies in which they have sought refuge. They want to be able to travel, have access to medical care, get married, start families, and in the end, when the situation allows it, return to their country. These people probably have more hope and motivation than us. They only need to be well understood.
— Please explain the theme of WHD (World Humanitarian Day), its importance, and the goal of the campaign.
This year's message in English is "It takes a village", which has been translated to Persian as “یک دست صدا ندارد” (Yek dast seda nadarad). The sentence means that to raise a child in the best way possible, to care for its health, education, and needs, the whole community should be involved to reach a desired goal. By using this phrase, we want to convey the message that in order to help someone in need, we require everyone's cooperation. To meet the needs [of refugees], it is necessary to have the support of others so that we can help these people [refugees] and finally meet their needs.
— How can people specifically support this campaign?
The first point is that we should be attentive individuals with open eyes and ears to see the people who need support. We should also help those affected by climate change or who need help due to conflict and economic hardship. If we have something to offer, whether it is money, food, or even our time, we should not hesitate. Some might think the refugees' situation is not good and want to do something for them. This is very nice. They can join the humanitarian efforts. For example, 90 percent of the people working in our office are Iranians. They help non-Iranians, this way we are also helping the host society, which means we are helping Iranians as well.
— What has been done to encourage humanitarianism and increase the humanitarian spirit in the world, and what can be done from now on?
You are asking a good question. Some measures have been taken through official channels to transfer the message of humanitarianism. For instance, some conferences have been held at the United Nations. And another part is projects that we, the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and other NGOs undertake. These measures, in a way, encourage others to also take humanitarian action, and one can say they also attract the attention of others. One of the issues we face in achieving all of this is funding. We receive some funding, but the amount is minimal compared to what is spent, for instance, on the defense or entertainment industry. On international level, humanitarian aid should become a higher priority. Recently, we saw a lot of aid gathered for Ukraine, but we are interested in witnessing multilateral assistance to all emergencies. Humanitarian aid should increase in Africa, the Middle East, including in Iran.
— Continuing on this discussion, do you think, in a way, it is because the Ukrainians are white that enormous amounts of aid have streamed in? We have seen wars like this in other countries like Afghanistan, Lebanon, etc. But it seems as if white people have a more special position. These topics are constantly discussed. Do you confirm this? What do you think about it?
At the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, our High Commissioner made a very clear statement and also talked about how good it was that the borders were open, and the Ukrainians could enter other countries and how they received shelter and access to healthcare. However, aid should not be limited to the color of your skin or which country you come from. The borders should be open to all in an equal manner. To reach this goal, we should better understand the reason for asylum-seeking. When we contemplate it, we realize that asylum-seeking has the same root all over the world. Discrimination, war, conflict, and other problems are the major reasons behind it. It is understandable if some countries are not interested in accepting refugees or refuse to do so. But at the same time, they can help the countries involved in the conflict in that region.
For example, in the case of Afghanistan, in addition to helping Afghanistan, support should also be provided to Pakistan, that hosts over a million refugees, and to Iran so that with these support, the countries that have accepted refugees could continue offering them services. It is unfair that Iran solely should have a significant share in paying for the costs of refugees. We call this burden sharing and responsibility sharing, and it should be done in a right manner. What we're looking for is open borders with open minds so that refugees can be received easily and that these individuals can receive the required support.
— We witness that powerful countries become involved in many wars, leading to many innocent individuals being displaced and seeking asylum in other countries. In fact, these powerful countries are responsible for the displacement. What is the message of this day for these countries?
This is also a very good question, but the main answer should be given by politicians or analysts. However, many documents exist that show conflict to be the main reason for displacement [of people] either within countries or outside, and this is an obvious fact which is not unknown. What is new is that conflict has been combined with other elements—for example, climate change or lack of natural resources such as water.
These elements have been combined together like a chain which has increased negative impact on people. In the end, people are forced to move and leave their countries. Small solutions are not enough to overcome these crises, and we should look for constructive solutions to resolve these issues. When the situation is not good, it is not strange that a person would enter Iran from another country or go to Turkey or seek asylum in other countries.
It is very natural: if I or you were living in an unfavorable situation, we would do the same. If you were a farmer and had no land to farm or no water, or your rights are violated in your own country, you would be forced to migrate. Our humanitarian support is not the main solution but only temporary relief. The main solution is peace, tranquility, development, and access to human rights. All world leaders are aware of this and should only start acting according to it.
Link to the original Farsi article:
http://www.irannewspaper.ir/newspaper/page/7985/1/623715/0
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25 August 2022
UN Iran exclusive interview with Etemad
What is World Humanitarian Day, and why has the United Nations named it?
Every year on August 19th, we commemorate World Humanitarian Day. The occasion that has resulted in this naming is, in fact, a sad one. The disastrous bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad in 2003 which killed 22 staff members of the UN, including the special representative of Secretary-General Sérgio de Mello. I remember this day very clearly. He was a man that we all looked up to and learned from. I was a young UN employee and knew some people who died on August 19th, 2003. From that day, we mark August 19th to celebrate the sacrifices of humanitarian and aid workers worldwide and their efforts and achievements in this field.
This year, the UN has picked a seemingly African proverb in its campaign to promote World Humanitarian Day. What is the meaning of this sentence? It takes a village to raise a child.
Yes, this year, we are using #ittakesavillage as a hashtag to shed light on the efforts that hundreds of thousands of humanitarian volunteers and professionals make to get humanitarian aid into the hands of millions worldwide. The real meaning of this sentence is that it usually takes the support and assistance of many supporting institutions/disciplines in the fields of education, sanitation/water health, food, health, and many other areas – together with the help of experts and specialists in various fields to put together a suitable support package for people that need help; their numbers are unfortunately on the rise. We encourage everyone to take part in this campaign with the #ittakesavillage hashtag so we can illustrate the efforts of humanitarians better than before.
At this time, which regions of the world have the most need for humanitarian aid, and which areas are the most dangerous for humanitarian workers?
If we want to start with the countries neighboring Iran, I have to say that – we all know – Afghanistan is a country that has massive amounts of humanitarian needs in various fields. Last year, 17.7 million Afghan citizens qualified to receive humanitarian aid, and approximately 17.5 million of them received those humanitarian aids. There are many other countries that very much need humanitarian assistance, such as South Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia, and of course, Ukraine. Suppose we want to discuss statistics and the scope of humanitarian assistance. In that case, I have to say that – according to calculations in 2021 – more than 235 million people worldwide need such support. In 2022, this number will significantly increase to 274 million people. United Nations aims to support 183 million people in 63 countries. These are the range of efforts and plans for humanitarian aid at the UN, and why is this important? Because we are working at a time when there are many reasons for humanitarian crises. Natural causes such as climate change and other factors like conflict and confrontation in the world. For these reasons, every day, the number of people needing such humanitarian support increases.
What is the purpose of naming this day as such by the UN? What is the exact message you would want to convey?
Our objective is to shed light on the many daily activities that happen in this field but do not often get visibility and recognition. We do not want to advertise, but it is good to discuss the volume of activities once a year and praise those that have lost their lives in the path of humanitarianism – or those that have put their lives in danger. We want to show the importance of humanitarian assistance to the world.
You talked about the increase in the number of people who need humanitarian assistance and mentioned several reasons. What is the primary reason for this in 2022? Has the war in Ukraine played a role in this?
There are many reasons. There is no one reason, and Ukraine is not the only present crisis in the world. We face many natural disasters that have caused challenges for many countries. We face cyclones, floods, earthquakes, and many other dangers that create the grounds for an increase in the number of people that need humanitarian aid. At the same time, millions of people face immediate hunger caused by climate change and conflicts.
Recently, the UN and Türkiye played a significant role in the agreement to export Ukrainian crops between Russia and Ukraine. Are there other initiatives to solve the food crisis born from the Ukraine war?
This agreement counts as a significant achievement. There are many innovations/plans that the UN SG is following up on and requires that many different UN agencies in the humanitarian field work together to make sure they bear fruit. For this particular agreement, many agencies such as OCHA and WFP came together to ensure that this vital agreement about exporting crop products from Ukraine and getting them to the hands of tens of millions of people worldwide who need them - works/bears results.
You are the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Allow me to ask some questions relating to Iran. One of the most important events in the past year regarding the relationship between Iran and the UN was the visit of a special rapporteur of the UN to the country after 17 years. What is your assessment of the travel of Alena Douhan?
Before discussing this, let me mention a point regarding the relationship between the UN humanitarian work and Iran. I want to say that in Iran, humanitarian activities are an important part of the efforts of the UN. Approximately more than half of our annual budget in the country is used on humanitarian work, especially the response to Afghan refugees. Naturally, you can see the increase in the volume of our support to Afghan refugees due to the events that unfolded last year in Afghanistan. Iran hosts a large number of Afghan refugees, and we praise Iran for its hosting of refugees for a protracted time.
Regarding your question about Alena Douhan, she came here by the invitation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to evaluate the negative impact of sanctions on human rights. She is an independent expert and works as the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. The United Nations offices in Iran (logistically) supported her trip, and her report is considered an independent report. This report shed light on the impact of sanctions.
On the subject of our role as the UN, to help the Government lessen the humanitarian impact of sanctions, we know that sanctions have had an impact on the availability of medicine in the country, and various UN agencies at different times have helped procure such medicine. One prominent example of this support is the topic of butterfly children (children with epidermolysis bullosa), where UNICEF helped procure the bandages needed by the patients.
You must know that there were allegations made after this trip, and some individuals and media reported that Ms. Douhan had received funding from governments such as Belarus and China; that these supports have impacted her report. What is your reaction to these allegations?
Our position is that she is an entirely independent expert. UN organizations usually receive funding from various countries, and in our view, the allegation that such financial support has a link to the opinions of Ms. Douhan is unfounded.
One of the aspects of UN cooperation [in Iran] was climate change. After the [signing of] the JCPOA, we witnessed some openings in this field, and projects such as Urmia Lake restoration showcase such positive cooperation. But after the withdrawal of the US from the JCPOA, these cooperation faced obstacles, and the financing of these projects did not occur. What is the reason behind this? Does the UN see itself committed to complying with the unilateral sanctions of the United States?
First, I must say that fighting climate change is one of the priorities of the United Nations. This topic is a crucial subject that is being followed up on at the level of the Secretary-General. We are happy that we have had good efforts in Iran in this field, yet a lot more needs to be done. We are progressing with a negotiated collaboration framework with the Government of Iran starting from January 2023, and climate change is a key component.
Repeating my question: what is the concrete reason for this reduction in support in the era post the fallout of the JCPOA?
Naturally, resource mobilization for the United Nations is a serious issue. We always called for more resources because the objectives were ambitious. I hope that the negotiations on the JCPOA arrive at a result, and as an outcome, we bring more resources into the country and invest/spend on various topics – especially climate change.
You said that the new cooperation will start in January 2023. What areas will these cooperation cover?
The collaboration framework is being finalized, and we will communicate this in the coming months. We hope that the documents for these collaborations are signed soon, but what I can say about the cooperation is that it is built on five pillars. One of them is socio-economic resilience to focus on poverty reduction. The next is on health – which has become more prominent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The third is the environment. Climate change is an integral part of activities in this field, but – as an example – topics such as natural management/protection of natural resources and waste management are also important. The fourth is cooperation in the control of drugs, and the fifth is the topic of risk reduction and disaster management.
At the beginning of the discussion, as you were talking about Iran, you mentioned the Afghan refugees. Much has been speculated on this topic since the fall of Kabul last year. Is there a precise statistic concerning the number of Afghan asylum seekers in Iran?
Our statistics are based on the statistics by the Government of Iran. Until the end of last year [2021], 500,000 asylum seekers crossed the border and were added to the estimated 3.5 million Afghans already residing in Iran. From this number, 780,000 have Amayesh cards and are recognized as refugees. This population is one of the target objectives of UN humanitarian assistance.
In the last year, Iran has faced challenges in its membership payment to the UN. Has a solution been found so that this issue does not get repeated?
Unfortunately, this is one of the negative aspects of sanctions causing baking challenges. We are cooperating with the Iranian Government to find a solution to this problem and timely payment of membership fees.
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Story
20 August 2022
It Takes a Village!
A global pandemic, extreme weather, climate change, conflict, hunger, and displacement: the world and its most vulnerable people are struggling like never before in recent history. The stress from these crises can be almost unbearable.
The UN estimates that 274 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2022, and the number has never been higher. But for the people in need, the secret to not losing hope is having faith that at any moment of any day, someone will have your back if you end up in the worst possible situation.
António Guterres, the UN Secretary General has said: “Losing hope is not a strategy. Taking action to support people in need is”.
The story of Siavash, an aid worker
One busy afternoon Siavash Maghsoudi, an Assistant Field Officer with UNHCR for the past decade, received a phone call from a weeping man. It was an Afghan refugee father he had known through his work. In a trembling voice the man explained why he had called: not to ask for help, but to bear good news: his 16-year-old daughter who had received treatment for a serious kidney condition, was now back in school.
Before UNHCR stepped in to offer support, the family had been scrambling to afford medical care. What had started as a minor allergy had developed into severe kidney infection, and the girl was now in need of regular dialysis.
“This is what keeps me going, the little improvements that we can make to people’s lives,” Siavash said. He is one of the many other unsung heroes of aid work who dedicatedly help people caught in the crosshairs of conflict or suffering in the aftermath of natural disasters. They are in daily contact with the traumatic stories of people who have lost their loved ones and their homes.
Siavash, a former photojournalist, is not daunted by the difficulties of humanitarian work: “Whenever a single person is helped through our efforts, I get my reward. I have received more than I have given - the trust and love I receive from the refugees and others in need is invaluable”.
Why It Takes a Village
A famous saying goes: It takes a village to raise a child. The same wisdom applies to humanitarian work: it takes a village to support a person in a humanitarian crisis: People who are victims of a crisis themselves are always the first responders, helping out neighbors, families and friends. Next in line, there is a community of local volunteers, emergency services, NGOs, and humanitarian networks such as the Red Crescent Society. And finally, the international system kicks in. International organizations and the various UN agencies, often in collaboration with the authorities, form a crucial network to deliver urgent healthcare, food, protection, water, livelihood, and more. Millions of people are helped every day. Everybody – the wider community or the metaphoric village – is needed when a crisis hits, immediate and timely support saves lives, as does national and large-scale international professional assistance.
What UN aid agencies do in Iran
Let’s take a moment and get to know the recent activities of some of the UN agencies who are delivering humanitarian aid in Iran:
OCHA supported victims of 2022 floods by identifying the needs of the affected people. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) works with the local government and the UN agencies to coordinate an emergency response to crises, and identify relief needs and gaps. UNHCR and WFP jointly supported 5,000 families affected by the floods in 2022. They distributed core relief items in the provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan, Fars, Kerman, and Hormozgan. WHO set up mobile clinics to care for those hurt.
UNICEF helps the most vulnerable children in Iran. Recently the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) distributed 421 pulse oximeters, 293 digital gun thermometers, 76,500 latex gloves, 4,000 N95 masks, 2,354 boxes of diapers, and 6,640 liters of surface sanitizers to children living in State Welfare Organization (SWO) rehabilitation centers and nurseries. These centers will now be better equipped to protect the children from the COVID-19 virus. One nurse was overjoyed to receive the equipment: “In the past we had to move babies from their beds to the nursing station to measure their blood oxygen through the medical monitor. Now we have a fingertip pulse oximeter”.
WFP has strengthened its humanitarian response for over three decades, to the protracted refugee crisis in Iran, continuing to provide unconditional food assistance to the most vulnerable refugees living in 20 settlements while successfully adjusting and expanding activities related to education and livelihoods, with a special focus on refugee women and girls. Although WFP’s intervention in Iran is focused mainly on assisting refugees, the organization has the operational capacity to support the Government and people of Iran in emergency response.
UNHCR distributed pandemic aid to refugees in Iran to protect against COVID-19. During the initial stages of the pandemic in Iran, UNHCR coordinated with its local government counterpart, the Burueau for Foreign Aliens and Immigrants’ Affairs (BAFIA) to distribute basic hygiene items such as soap and disposable towels to 7,500 refugee families living in settlements across the country. These items were crucial in preventing and slowing the spread of disease in settlements, where families usually live in small spaces, without enough possibility of social distancing.
The history of World Humanitarian Day originates not far from Iran. The day was named in the memory of the 19 August 2003 bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in the neighboring capital of Baghdad, which killed 22 people, including the then incumbent UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, the Brazilian diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello. The UN General Assembly formalized the day as World Humanitarian Day (WHD) in 2009. Each year, a new theme is chosen for WHD to raise awareness about the people struggling due to crises and the aid workers who help them survive and rehabilitate with dignity. This year we cherish the value of humanitarian action and emphasize aid worker security.
Conditions for the most vulnerable people in the world are dire and more than ever we need to take action for their benefit. On this World Humanitarian Day in 2022 we take a moment to recognize the efforts of hundreds of thousands of volunteers, professionals, and crisis-affected people who supply what is needed wherever in the world it is needed.
In 2022, 274 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection. This number is a significant increase from 235 million people a year ago, which was already the highest figure in decades. The United Nations and partner organizations aim to assist 183 million people most in need across 63 countries, which will require $41 billion.
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Press Release
25 August 2022
Joint WHO, EU Humanitarian Aid and Canada project to improve access to inclusive health care for older persons and people living with disabilities gets one step closer to results
The project, co-funded by the World Health Organization, the European Union Humanitarian Aid, and the Government of Canada, aims to support innovative activities to increase the COVID-19 response capacity of long-term care facilities, procure assistive technologies for the most vulnerable, and train caregivers in providing tailor-made services to the older persons and people living with disabilities through an online platform for research and training.
It is estimated that more than 7000 older persons and people living with disabilities in long-term care facilities will have access to improved services and better COVID-19 protection and response once the project is completed. Thirty long-term care facilities with >140 residents in 14 provinces were prioritised to receive the necessary equipment and training to establish a standard isolation room and reduce COVID-19 risks. The equipment includes air purifiers with two year’s supply of air filters (HEPA), oxygen concentrators, hospital beds, portable UV disinfection devices, autoclaves, washing machines, and one year’s supply of personal protective equipment.
In addition, at least 900 persons living with severe disabilities in urgent need of assistive technologies will be provided with regular or commode wheelchairs and antidecubitus mattresses.
WHO, project consultants and the steering committee members conducted onsite visits to select facilities to observe their readiness and develop guidelines for COVID-19 isolation, care, and risk reduction. It is expected that the remaining items and equipment will arrive in the country and be repackaged for distribution to the prioritised facilities and individuals within the next few months. Meanwhile, the project team is preparing to train the caregivers on the implementation and monitoring of the developed guidelines.
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Press Release
30 June 2022
UNODC World Drug Report 2022 highlights trends on cannabis post-legalization, environmental impacts of illicit drugs, and drug use among women and youth
Released today, the report also details record rises in the manufacturing of cocaine, the expansion of synthetic drugs to new markets, and continued gaps in the availability of drug treatments, especially for women.
According to the report, around 284 million people aged 15-64 used drugs worldwide in 2020, a 26 per cent increase over the previous decade. Young people are using more drugs, with use levels today in many countries higher than with the previous generation. In Africa and Latin America, people under 35 represent the majority of people being treated for drug use disorders.
Globally, the report estimates that 11.2 million people worldwide were injecting drugs. Around half of this number were living with hepatitis C, 1.4 million were living with HIV, and 1.2 million were living with both.
Reacting to these findings, UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly stated: “Numbers for the manufacturing and seizures of many illicit drugs are hitting record highs, even as global emergencies are deepening vulnerabilities. At the same time, misperceptions regarding the magnitude of the problem and the associated harms are depriving people of care and treatment and driving young people towards harmful behaviours. We need to devote the necessary resources and attention to addressing every aspect of the world drug problem, including the provision of evidence-based care to all who need it, and we need to improve the knowledge base on how illicit drugs relate to other urgent challenges, such as conflicts and environmental degradation.”
The report further emphasizes the importance of galvanizing the international community, governments, civil society and all stakeholders to take urgent action to protect people, including by strengthening drug use prevention and treatment and by tackling illicit drug supply.
Early indications and effects of cannabis legalization
Cannabis legalization in North America appears to have increased daily cannabis use, especially potent cannabis products and particularly among young adults. Associated increases in people with psychiatric disorders, suicides and hospitalizations have also been reported. Legalization has also increased tax revenues and generally reduced arrest rates for cannabis possession.
Continued growth in drug production and trafficking
Cocaine manufacture was at a record high in 2020, growing 11 per cent from 2019 to 1,982 tons. Cocaine seizures also increased, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, to a record 1,424 tons in 2020. Nearly 90 per cent of cocaine seized globally in 2021 was trafficked in containers and/or by sea. Seizure data suggest that cocaine trafficking is expanding to other regions outside the main markets of North America and Europe, with increased levels of trafficking to Africa and Asia.
Trafficking of methamphetamine continues to expand geographically, with 117 countries reporting seizures of methamphetamine in 2016‒2020 versus 84 in 2006‒2010. Meanwhile, the quantities of methamphetamine seized grew five-fold between 2010 and 2020.
Opium production worldwide grew seven per cent between 2020 and 2021 to 7,930 tons ‐ predominantly due to an increase in production in Afghanistan. However, the global area under opium poppy cultivation fell by 16 per cent to 246,800 ha in the same period.
Key drug trends broken down by region
In many countries in Africa and South and Central America, the largest proportion of people in treatment for drug use disorders are there primarily for cannabis use disorders. In Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and in Central Asia, people are most often in treatment for opioid use disorders.
In the United States and Canada, overdose deaths, predominantly driven by an epidemic of the non-medical use of fentanyl, continue to break records. Preliminary estimates in the United States point to more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021, up from nearly 92,000 in 2020.
In the two largest markets for methamphetamine, seizures have been increasing ‐ they rose by seven per cent in North America from the previous year, while in South-East Asia they increased by 30 per cent from the previous year, record highs in both regions. A record high was also reported for methamphetamine seizures reported from South-West Asia, increasing by 50 per cent in 2020 from 2019.
Great inequality remains in the availability of pharmaceutical opioids for medical consumption. In 2020, there were 7,500 more doses per 1 million inhabitants of controlled pain medication in North America than in West and Central Africa.
Conflict zones as magnets for synthetic drug production
This year’s report also highlights that illicit drug economies can flourish in situations of conflict and where the rule of law is weak, and in turn can prolong or fuel conflict.
Information from the Middle East and South-East Asia suggest that conflict situations can act as a magnet for the manufacture of synthetic drugs, which can be produced anywhere. This effect may be greater when the conflict area is close to large consumer markets.
Historically, parties to conflict have used drugs to finance conflict and generate income. The 2022 World Drug Report also reveals that conflicts may also disrupt and shift drug trafficking routes, as has happened in the Balkans and more recently in Ukraine.
A possible growing capacity to manufacture amphetamine in Ukraine if the conflict persists
There was a significant increase in the number of reported clandestine laboratories in Ukraine, skyrocketing from 17 dismantled laboratories in 2019 to 79 in 2020. 67 out of these laboratories were producing amphetamines, up from five in 2019 ‐ the highest number of dismantled laboratories reported in any given country in 2020.
The environmental impacts of drug markets
Illicit drug markets, according to the 2022 World Drug Report, can have local, community or individual-level impacts on the environment. Key findings include that the carbon footprint of indoor cannabis is between 16 and 100 times more than outdoor cannabis on average and that the footprint of 1 kilogram of cocaine is 30 times greater than that of cocoa beans.
Other environmental impacts include substantial deforestation associated with illicit coca cultivation, waste generated during synthetic drug manufacture that can be 5-30 times the volume of the end product, and the dumping of waste which can affecting soil, water and air directly, as well as organisms, animals and the food chain indirectly.
Ongoing gender treatment gap and disparities in drug use and treatment
Women remain in the minority of drug users globally yet tend to increase their rate of drug consumption and progress to drug use disorders more rapidly than men do. Women now represent an estimated 45-49 per cent of users of amphetamines and non-medical users of pharmaceutical stimulants, pharmaceutical opioids, sedatives, and tranquilizers.
The treatment gap remains large for women globally. Although women represent almost one in two amphetamines users, they constitute only one in five people in treatment for amphetamine use disorders.
The World Drug Report 2022 also spotlights the wide range of roles fulfilled by women in the global cocaine economy, including cultivating coca, transporting small quantities of drugs, selling to consumers, and smuggling into prisons.
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The World Drug Report and further content is available here: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/world-drug-report-2022.html
The 2022 World Drug Report provides a global overview of the supply and demand of opiates, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances (NPS), as well as their impact on health.
* *** *
For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Brian Hansford
Chief, UNODC Advocacy Section
Mobile: (+43-699) 1458-3225
Email: brian.hansford[at]un.org
Chief, UNODC Advocacy Section
Mobile: (+43-699) 1458-3225
Email: brian.hansford[at]un.org
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Press Release
12 April 2022
World Health Day 2022 Commemorated in Islamic Republic of Iran
The event welcomed students in different fields of health and medicine at the university, as well as experts and specialists from a myriad of backgrounds and provided a platform for keynote speeches by WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Iran Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, University Chancellor Dr Alireza Zali, and Deputy Minister for Public Health Dr Kamal Heidari.
The World Health Day is seen each year as an opportunity by governments and organizations to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health including by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The joint commemoration of the global occasion, held to mark WHO's founding, will continue through a number of initiatives and events that officially commence on the 7th and run until the last week of April.
“We need to highlight operationalizing health in all policies, strengthening partnership of health and non-health sectors, focus of political, economic, and social drivers and their impact on health and well-being,” said Dr Hussain in his speech. “Our vision in the region is Health for all by all and this is not achievable without intersectoral collaboration of all sectors.”
Under the theme ‘Our Planet, Our Health’ for this year’s World Health Day, WHO is focusing global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being in the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet, increasing diseases like cancer, asthma, and heart disease.
WHO estimates that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes, which including climate change are responsible for 23% of the total burden of disease in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and as much as 30% of the disease burden for children. An estimated 1 million people die prematurely every year in our Region as a result of living and working in unhealthy environments.
“Countries can achieve health equity by changing policies to give everyone equal opportunity for being healthy, empowerment and engagement of communities, vulnerable and marginalized and affected population in decision making and implementation of solutions, to ensure timeliness and reliability of data to identify inequalities and evidence-based policy and decision making, having an inclusive vision and acting beyond borders,” Dr Hussain underlined.
Throughout the National Health Week (24-30 April), WHO will support the ministry of health in organizing coordinated meetings between UN agencies to discuss and consolidate ongoing efforts for climate and health, health promotion events on the sidelines, and encourage other plans and pledges by government and non-governmental organizations across the country to prompt political commitment for action and community engagement for impact.
WHO Regional Direction Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari has in turn stressed the critical need to tackle these challenges, by addressing the root causes of ill health. “Many aspects of environmental health go far beyond the health sector, so concerted action by many different actors across different sectors is required, focusing on upstream interventions to prevent, minimize or mitigate environmental risks,” he said in his message for the occasion.
Our political, social, and commercial decisions are driving the climate and health crisis. Environmental hazards such as polluted air, toxic chemicals, and lack of access to water and sanitation exacerbate the Region’s inherent vulnerability to infectious disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There is growing evidence of a direct connection between environmental change and the emergence or transmission of COVID-19, while on the other hand the pandemic has diverted resources from development efforts and placed additional stresses on ecosystems and health systems.
Through the ‘Our Planet, Our Health’ campaign, WHO urges governments and the public to share stories of steps they are taking to protect the planet and their health and prioritize well-being societies. Recovery from COVID-19 also presents a historic opportunity to rebuild better and create cleaner, healthier and fairer systems and societies. Tackling environmental risks is also an essential part of WHO’s vision of Health for All by All in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
On this World Health Day, WHO calls on everyone – governments, businesses, health professionals, civil society, communities, and individuals – to protect Our Planet and Our Health.
We must act now for a #HealthierTomorrow.
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World Health Day 2022 campaign ‘Our Planet, Our Health’ is being run in Iran in collaboration with the ministry of health and its affiliate organizations across the country. To see campaign content in Farsi and get more information please visit WHO Iran Instagram page at: https://www.instagram.com/whoiran/
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Press Release
28 February 2022
Climate change: a threat to human wellbeing and health of the planet. Taking action now can secure our future
“This report is a dire warning about the consequences of inaction,” said Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC. “It shows that climate change is a grave and mounting threat to our wellbeing and a healthy planet. Our actions today will shape how people adapt and nature responds to increasing climate risks.”
The world faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the next two decades with global warming of 1.5°C (2.7°F). Even temporarily exceeding this warming level will result in additional severe impacts, some of which will be irreversible. Risks for society will increase, including to infrastructure and low-lying coastal settlements.
The Summary for Policymakers of the IPCC Working Group II report, Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability was approved on Sunday, February 27 2022, by 195 member governments of the IPCC, through a virtual approval session that was held over two weeks starting on February 14.
Urgent action required to deal with increasing risks
Increased heatwaves, droughts and floods are already exceeding plants’ and animals’ tolerance thresholds, driving mass mortalities in species such as trees and corals. These weather extremes are occurring simultaneously, causing cascading impacts that are increasingly difficult to manage. They have exposed millions of people to acute food and water insecurity, especially in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, on Small Islands and in the Arctic.
To avoid mounting loss of life, biodiversity and infrastructure, ambitious, accelerated action is required to adapt to climate change, at the same time as making rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. So far, progress on adaptation is uneven and there are increasing gaps between
action taken and what is needed to deal with the increasing risks, the new report finds. These gaps are largest among lower-income populations. The Working Group II report is the second installment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which will be completed this year. “This report recognizes the interdependence of climate, biodiversity and people and integrates natural, social and economic sciences more strongly than earlier IPCC assessments,” said Hoesung Lee. “It emphasizes the urgency of immediate and more ambitious action to address climate risks. Half measures are no longer an option.” Safeguarding and strengthening nature is key to securing a liveable future There are options to adapt to a changing climate. This report provides new insights into nature’s potential not only to reduce climate risks but also to improve people's lives. “Healthy ecosystems are more resilient to climate change and provide life-critical services such as food and clean water”, said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Pörtner. “By restoring degraded ecosystems and effectively and equitably conserving 30 to 50 per cent of Earth’s land, freshwater and ocean habitats, society can benefit from nature’s capacity to absorb and store carbon, and we can accelerate progress towards sustainable development, but adequate finance and political support are essential.” Scientists point out that climate change interacts with global trends such as unsustainable use of natural resources, growing urbanization, social inequalities, losses and damages from extreme events and a pandemic, jeopardizing future development. “Our assessment clearly shows that tackling all these different challenges involves everyone – governments, the private sector, civil society – working together to prioritize risk reduction, as well as equity and justice, in decision-making and investment,” said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Debra Roberts. “In this way, different interests, values and world views can be reconciled. By bringing together scientific and technological know-how as well as Indigenous and local knowledge, solutions will be more effective. Failure to achieve climate resilient and sustainable development will result in a suboptimal future for people and nature.” Cities: Hotspots of impacts and risks, but also a crucial part of the solution This report provides a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and adaptation in cities, where more than half the world’s population lives. People’s health, lives and livelihoods, as well as property and critical infrastructure, including energy and transportation systems, are being increasingly adversely affected by hazards from heatwaves, storms, drought and flooding as well as slow-onset changes, including sea level rise. “Together, growing urbanization and climate change create complex risks, especially for those cities that already experience poorly planned urban growth, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and a lack of basic services,” Debra Roberts said. “But cities also provide opportunities for climate action – green buildings, reliable supplies of clean water and renewable energy, and sustainable transport systems that connect urban and rural areas can all lead to a more inclusive, fairer society.” There is increasing evidence of adaptation that has caused unintended consequences, for example destroying nature, putting peoples’ lives at risk or increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This can be avoided by involving everyone in planning, attention to equity and justice, and drawing on Indigenous and local knowledge. A narrowing window for action Climate change is a global challenge that requires local solutions and that’s why the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) provides extensive regional information to enable Climate Resilient Development. The report clearly states Climate Resilient Development is already challenging at current warming levels. It will become more limited if global warming exceeds 1.5°C (2.7°F). In some regions it will be impossible if global warming exceeds 2°C (3.6°F). This key finding underlines the urgency for climate action, focusing on equity and justice. Adequate funding, technology transfer, political commitment and partnership lead to more effective climate change adaptation and emissions reductions. “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner. For more information, please contact:
IPCC Press Office, Email: ipcc-media@wmo.int
IPCC Working Group II:
Sina Löschke, Komila Nabiyeva: comms@ipcc-wg2.awi.de
action taken and what is needed to deal with the increasing risks, the new report finds. These gaps are largest among lower-income populations. The Working Group II report is the second installment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which will be completed this year. “This report recognizes the interdependence of climate, biodiversity and people and integrates natural, social and economic sciences more strongly than earlier IPCC assessments,” said Hoesung Lee. “It emphasizes the urgency of immediate and more ambitious action to address climate risks. Half measures are no longer an option.” Safeguarding and strengthening nature is key to securing a liveable future There are options to adapt to a changing climate. This report provides new insights into nature’s potential not only to reduce climate risks but also to improve people's lives. “Healthy ecosystems are more resilient to climate change and provide life-critical services such as food and clean water”, said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Pörtner. “By restoring degraded ecosystems and effectively and equitably conserving 30 to 50 per cent of Earth’s land, freshwater and ocean habitats, society can benefit from nature’s capacity to absorb and store carbon, and we can accelerate progress towards sustainable development, but adequate finance and political support are essential.” Scientists point out that climate change interacts with global trends such as unsustainable use of natural resources, growing urbanization, social inequalities, losses and damages from extreme events and a pandemic, jeopardizing future development. “Our assessment clearly shows that tackling all these different challenges involves everyone – governments, the private sector, civil society – working together to prioritize risk reduction, as well as equity and justice, in decision-making and investment,” said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Debra Roberts. “In this way, different interests, values and world views can be reconciled. By bringing together scientific and technological know-how as well as Indigenous and local knowledge, solutions will be more effective. Failure to achieve climate resilient and sustainable development will result in a suboptimal future for people and nature.” Cities: Hotspots of impacts and risks, but also a crucial part of the solution This report provides a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and adaptation in cities, where more than half the world’s population lives. People’s health, lives and livelihoods, as well as property and critical infrastructure, including energy and transportation systems, are being increasingly adversely affected by hazards from heatwaves, storms, drought and flooding as well as slow-onset changes, including sea level rise. “Together, growing urbanization and climate change create complex risks, especially for those cities that already experience poorly planned urban growth, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and a lack of basic services,” Debra Roberts said. “But cities also provide opportunities for climate action – green buildings, reliable supplies of clean water and renewable energy, and sustainable transport systems that connect urban and rural areas can all lead to a more inclusive, fairer society.” There is increasing evidence of adaptation that has caused unintended consequences, for example destroying nature, putting peoples’ lives at risk or increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This can be avoided by involving everyone in planning, attention to equity and justice, and drawing on Indigenous and local knowledge. A narrowing window for action Climate change is a global challenge that requires local solutions and that’s why the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) provides extensive regional information to enable Climate Resilient Development. The report clearly states Climate Resilient Development is already challenging at current warming levels. It will become more limited if global warming exceeds 1.5°C (2.7°F). In some regions it will be impossible if global warming exceeds 2°C (3.6°F). This key finding underlines the urgency for climate action, focusing on equity and justice. Adequate funding, technology transfer, political commitment and partnership lead to more effective climate change adaptation and emissions reductions. “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner. For more information, please contact:
IPCC Press Office, Email: ipcc-media@wmo.int
IPCC Working Group II:
Sina Löschke, Komila Nabiyeva: comms@ipcc-wg2.awi.de
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Press Release
17 January 2022
The United Kingdom contributes £1 million to support Afghan refugees in Iran
The £1 million contribution through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will allow WFP to preposition assistance for potential new arrivals from Afghanistan with ready-to eat meals and other rations. It also gives WFP the flexibility to channel part of the contribution towards supporting 31,000 refugees who have already been living in 20 settlements across the country, helping to stabilize their food security situation and avoid any further population movements.
This timely allocation will enhance WFP’s life-saving mission, allowing WFP to quickly respond to any increased additional needs through a combination of cash and direct food assistance.
“We’re extremely grateful to the FCDO for this generous contribution and its support to our operations in Iran,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Negar Gerami. “The harsh winter months, job losses, lack of cash and soaring prices have pushed the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan to new highs, with close to 23 million threatened by food insecurity. It is critical that WFP remains prepared to respond to any sudden onset refugee emergency.”
Simon Shercliff, the UK Ambassador to Iran said: “We are pleased to help Iran support the large numbers of Afghan refugees who have chosen to leave Afghanistan. This contribution enables WFP to provide these refugees with vital food assistance, including ready-to-eat meals and other rations. The UK stands with the people of Afghanistan and regional partners in pursuit of a stable, peaceful future for the country.”
The recent fast-paced turn of events in Afghanistan has the potential to create additional population movements; displacing families internally and potentially driving them to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The Islamic Republic of Iran is host to one of the largest and most protracted urban refugee situations in the world and has provided asylum to refugees for over four decades.
Thanks to donors’ support, WFP has been providing assistance to refugees in Iran since the arrival of the first asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iraq in the late 1980s. The food agency remains committed to continue its support until a durable solution is found.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media and @WFPIran For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org): Dara Darbandi, WFP/ Iran, Tel. +98 21 2279 4060 (Ext. 526), Mob. +98 912 308 4147
The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media and @WFPIran For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org): Dara Darbandi, WFP/ Iran, Tel. +98 21 2279 4060 (Ext. 526), Mob. +98 912 308 4147
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