occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disability.I was inspired by how persons with disability were given center stage, touched by the address of young man with speech impairment, who articulated the multifold needs of persons with disability in Iran, and was further impressed by the statement of President Pezeshkian on the steadfast commitment of the government to serve persons with disabilities.The event underlined the duties of each and everyone of us to make our society open, inclusive and supportive enough where every person with disability can achieve their full potential.The UN Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century.Its purpose is – “… to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.”The Convention marks a paradigm shift. It recognizes that all persons with disabilities have equal rights and freedoms as all other people.It recognizes that disability is not just biological. It often results from the interaction between a person with impairment, and the barriers they encounter in terms of other people’s attitudes or their environment.It is the duty of each of us to address this social disadvantage and promote the participation of and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in civil, political, economic, social and cultural spheres.Hence, the theme of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future” call for the meaningful participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in every sphere of life, which in turn will create a more just and equitable world for all of us.In Iran, the UN family – consisting of 19 Agencies, Funds and Programmes – works together with national partners to uphold the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.When UNICEF delivers assistance to education programs for children with disabilities, or when IOM provides prosthetic limbs for persons with physical impairment, when WHO provides wheelchairs, or when UNHCR addresses the needs of the persons with disabilities among refugees – it is our common vision to work with Iran to create a world of equal opportunity for all and to “leave no one behind”.With small and catalytic efforts, we believe that the barriers that restrain persons with disabilities from achieving their potential can be overcome.In the words of UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres, “let’s work with persons with disabilities to achieve an inclusive and sustainable future for all people”. 

Tehran, December 2024 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Iran, in coordination with the Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, organized a five-day specialised training on “Investigation of Crimes related to Drug Trafficking” for a group of senior police officers of the Iranian Anti-Narcotics Police, from 08 to 12 December 2024, in Tehran.  
The UNODC has consistently supported national partners by organizing a series of training workshops for the Anti-Narcotics Force. This particular workshop aimed to strengthen the operational knowledge and investigative skills of Iranian partners in addressing drug-related crimes. It was developed as part of UNODC Iran’s activities under its Country Partnership Programme with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The content was tailored based on feedback from participants in previous UNODC trainings and consultations with Iranian drug control authorities to identify the most relevant and needed topics. The training was conducted by two senior professional instructors from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.During the opening session of the event, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, UNODC Iran Country Representative, expressed his appreciation to all participants and UNODC’s national counterparts. He also expressed hope that similar capacity-building and awareness-raising initiatives could be organized in the future, subject to budget availability.Mr. Mohammad Narimani, Interim Director General of the International Relations Office of the DCHQ, emphasized on the importance of holding this event in Tehran and requested the participants to make use of this specialised training event organized for them to the most extent possible.
The Deputy Head of Anti-Narcotics Police of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Gholamreza Hamidikia, also expressed his gratitude to the continuous support of UNODC and encouraged the attendees to participate interactively by asking questions and sharing knowledge.
This specialised training which was designed to cover topics related to investigation of crimes related to drug trafficking was well received by the participants and assessment of the evaluation of the training workshop and feed backs received from the participants evidently indicated that the subjects covered by respected instructors were relevant to their expectations and in general the training session has been evaluated and rated as strongly fruitful and beneficial.
During the graduation ceremony, Mr. Alexander Fedulov presented certificates to the participants from the Islamic Republic of Iran. He expressed gratitude to the Russian Federation for funding the initiative and acknowledged the Drug Control Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran for their support in organizing the training.This event was organized as part of the activities foreseen in the framework of the                                  Sub-programme 1 “Border Management and Illicit Trafficking” of UNODC Country Partnership Programme (2023 - 2026) for the Islamic Republic of Iran through the generous donation of the Russian Federation. It is hoped that with kind cooperation of the Russian Federation it would be possible to hold similar training workshops in the future.
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For additional information please contact Sougand Babaei (Ms.)
National Programme Assistant, UNODC Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel.: +98 21 88 87 83 77, email: sougand.babaei@un.org 

On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day 2024, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, UNODC Iran Country Representative, attended the ceremonial meeting which was planned and programmed by the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture. The meeting hosted representatives of Embassies, companies, industries and enterprises as well as non-governmental organizations and academicians. In his remarks, Mr. Mahmoud Najafi Arab, Chairman of Tehran Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture, referencing last year's report from the Parliamentary Research Center, emphasized that while numerous institutions are tasked with combating corruption and promoting transparency, integrity, and good governance, there is no clear and coordinated strategy to address the root causes of corruption. Despite the involvement of 19 different organizations in anti-corruption efforts, larger corruption cases continue to surface daily, indicating that these efforts have not been as effective as intended. Mr. Alexander Fedulov commemorated International Anti-Corruption Day, while emphasizing its alignment with the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). He highlighted the year’s theme, "Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity," he underscored the critical role of young people in fostering transparency and accountability. The youth, he stated, are not only deeply affected by corruption but are also vital to combatting it with their innovation and energy. He mentioned that this campaign will culminate in the 2025 Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC in Doha, where young leaders will directly engage with global decision-makers. Mr. Fedulov advocated for empowering youth and women, fostering partnerships across sectors, and reinforcing global collaboration to combat corruption effectively. With the continued support of the UNODC and a united effort, he expressed optimism in achieving lasting systemic change and setting the stage for impactful discussions at CoSP-11 in 2025. His Excellency Mr. Tamaki Tsukada, Ambassador of Japan highlighted Japan’s strong commitment to combating corruption both domestically and globally. He mentioned that anti-corruption measures will contribute to expansion of economic relationship with various other countries including Japan. He emphasized that Japan would continue to work with the international community to promote anti-corruption measures both in Japan and abroad.                                                                                                   ***For additional information please contact Sougand Babaei (Ms.)National Programme Assistant, UNODC Country Office in the Islamic Republic of IranTel.: +98 21 88 87 83 77, email: sougand.babaei@un.org

On 08 December 2024, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, the UNODC Iran Country Representative, participated in a high-level meeting at the Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ). The meeting, organized by the DCHQ, aimed to highlight Iran’s substantial efforts in the fight against drug trafficking.At the meeting, Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, Commander of the Iranian Border Guard, shared details of a major drug seizure in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. On 10 September 2024, Iranian forces successfully seized 2,400 kilograms of methamphetamine. This operation underscored the relentless commitment of Iran's border forces, who are at the forefront of combating the production and trafficking of drugs, particularly those originating in Afghanistan. Brigadier General Goudarzi emphasized that the seizure not only reflects the escalating challenges posed by methamphetamine production in the region but also the dedication of Iran’s border guards, law enforcement, and customs officials in addressing this issue. Mr. Fedulov praised the Iranian government for its steadfast commitment to tackling drug trafficking and stressed the importance of strengthened regional cooperation. He also emphasized the need for further international support to bolster collective efforts in combating drug trafficking across West Asia.The UNODC Country Representative stated that this successful operation will be presented to the international community as a testament to Iran's noble resolve in combating drug trafficking and its dedication to regional security. Mr. Fedulov expressed his gratitude to Iranian authorities for their invaluable contributions to this global challenge.                                                                           ***For additional information please contact Sougand Babaei (Ms.)
National Programme Assistant, UNODC Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel.: +98 21 88 87 83 77, Email: sougand.babaei@un.org