Naqadeh County in West Azerbaijan is home to Dargah Sangi, an internationally recognized wetland. In the heart of Naqadeh, Zahra stands out as a beacon of hope for the women in her community.As a teacher, she takes it on herself to pass on her knowledge to others to create positive change. However, she noticed that many women in rural areas lacked access to vocational training opportunities. To bridge this gap, she began traveling to villages, offering vocational courses in partnership with the Technical and Vocational Training Organization. Zahra believes that “women are the pulse of their culture and society.”With support from the Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project (CIWP)—a joint initiative between the Department of Environment, the Government of Japan, and UNDP—Zahra provides training in carpet and kilim weaving, embroidery, leather sewing, cooking, baking, and upcycling. These skills have empowered many women to launch home-based businesses, contributing to their family incomes and strengthening the local economy. To date, Zahra has trained over 1,000 women, around 170 of whom have turned their cooking skills into home-based businesses, opened restaurants, specialized in kilim weaving, or begun weaving carpets.Through CIWP, Zahra also educates women on conserving natural resources, promoting water-efficient practices in crafts and agriculture. For example, instead of discarding old clothes, women repurpose them into cushions and pillowcases, turning waste into a source of income for their families."We are all connected to wetlands as they are a source of life," Zahra says. "We depend on wetlands, and small actions can have great impacts." She also highlights the environmental challenges posed by agriculture near wetlands, particularly its high-water consumption. She advocates for reconsidering jobs that require excessive water use in favor of more sustainable alternatives. Instead, Zahra encourages people to adopt water-saving techniques, such as planting less water-demanding crops and implementing sustainable farming practices.For Zahra, this initiative is not just about teaching skills—it is about conserving wetlands and ensuring that well-trained women can play a vital role in their communities. By using their talents to create new opportunities, they are not only securing their futures but also protecting the environment for generations to come. , filtered_html

The UNODC Country Office in Iran has been at the forefront of introducing and implementing drug and HIV prevention, treatment, and care programs under the Country Partnership Programme for Iran. These initiatives aim to reduce drug demand, mitigate public health consequences, and protect vulnerable populations from addiction and HIV. A key focus has been empowering Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to play a stronger role in prevention, treatment, and care efforts, ensuring a more inclusive and effective response. In South Tehran, harm reduction workers are quietly transforming lives. Their mission is to provide essential services to some of the city’s most marginalized individuals—people who use drugs (PWUD), the homeless, and those at risk of HIV. Through a combination of treatment referrals, hygienic services, and compassionate support, these efforts are offering a lifeline to those in need, channeled through the efforts of UNODC Iran. During recent outreach missions, teams visited parks, woods, and informal gathering spots across the city, encountering men and women struggling with addiction and health issues. Many were homeless living in precarious conditions. The services provided were both immediate and life-changing, including hygienic support such as clean clothes and bathing facilities, medical and treatment referrals for those with respiratory illnesses or injuries, and methadone treatment for individuals seeking to quit drugs. Counseling and recovery support were also offered, addressing behavioral issues and providing pathways to rehabilitation through referrals to specialized centers.  Women, often at higher risk, received targeted attention, including support for those who had stopped using drugs but needed further assistance or had relapsed. Men, many of whom were homeless, were provided with critical services such as wound care, hygienic supplies, and access to methadone treatment. These interventions not only address immediate needs but also restore dignity and hope to those who have long been neglected. One important aspect of these efforts is that the program incorporates a holistic approach to treatment and prevention, focusing on individualized care and empowering individuals through various methods such as providing tailored treatment methods for different types of addiction ensuring that each individual receives care suited to their specific needs; promoting self-belief and personal empowerment - as a critical component of treatment and prevention, helping individuals build confidence in their ability to recover; examining the impact of education and employment on the treatment process, recognizing that stability and purpose are key to long-term recovery; and comparing existing treatment methods to identify the most effective approaches and improve treatment retention rates.  Techniques such as individual and group psychotherapy are used alongside medication-assisted treatment to address the physical, psychological, and social aspects of addiction. Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Homelessness often disrupts outreach activities, while high relapse rates underscore the need for sustained support and long-term solutions. Yet, the impact of these harm reduction efforts is undeniable. For those served, these interventions are more than just aid—they are a beacon of hope, offering a chance to rebuild lives and reclaim dignity.  Looking ahead, UNODC Iran aims to address critical gaps in harm reduction, treatment, and HIV care programs, with a special emphasis on women. By delivering tailored interventions and enhancing the effectiveness of national harm reduction programs, UNODC and its partners are working to ensure that no one is left behind. With expanded resources and collaboration, these efforts can grow, bringing light to even the darkest corners of the city and fostering a more inclusive and compassionate society., filtered_html

Iranian scholars and practitioners have traditionally been at the forefront of research on addiction and its associated policy, socio-economic, and cultural dimensions. This has manifested itself in the annual Addiction Science Congress (ASC), during which academics and practitioners have the opportunity to present their latest findings and benefit from the numerous contributions from other scholars from different fields and approaches. In the opening session of the Congress, representatives from non-governmental and governmental organizations highlighted the progress made throughout the years and pointed to the challenges facing them in their efforts to curb addiction.  Professor Mohammad Taghi Joghataei, the Congress Chair, made the opening remarks and thanked the participants for attending the Congress. Dr Ramin Radfar, the scientific secretary of the Congress, applauded the efforts of Iranian scholars and encouraged up-and-coming scholars to conduct more research on addiction. Dr Nader Tavakoli, Dean of Iran University of Medical Sciences, and Dr Mohammad Raeiszadeh, President of the Iranian Medical Council, also welcomed the participants and highlighted the crucial role that the medical professionals play in curbing addiction in the country.  Brigadier General Hossein Zolfaghari, the Secretary General of Iranian Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ), reflected on his early experience in addiction treatment and acknowledging the complexity of drug-related issues beyond cultivation and trafficking. He emphasized the necessity of utilizing all available expertise and experiences to contain drug addiction effectively. Mr Zolfaghari called for establishing a national addiction knowledge hub and network to share valuable insights. He highlighted the increasing global addiction rates, the evolving nature of drug production and trafficking, including illegal trade in social media, and the need for measurable, effective interventions. Stressing the importance of both domestic and international experiences, he noted that innovation and diverse treatment approaches are crucial. He underscored the significance of proper organization and synergy in tackling drug-related issues, identifying addiction as a major social challenge. Finally, he outlined the need for strategic policymaking and structured implementation, aligning with the 7th Development Plan and the Supreme Leader’s directives to enhance addiction prevention, treatment, and management.Dr Alireza Raeisi, Deputy Minister of Health, announced the establishment of specialized centres for addiction prevention, emphasizing the importance of teaching health skills in schools to reduce long-term risks. He highlighted the potential role of 35,000 health centres nationwide in addressing this issue. He stressed the need to prioritize at-risk individuals, such as children of addicted parents, and called for innovative and effective prevention models due to limited resources. Dr Raeisi advocated for early intervention and underscored the necessity of harm reduction alongside addiction treatment.While Iran has 1,383 rehabilitation centres assisting around 300,000 affected individuals, Mr Javad Hosseini, Head of the State Welfare Organization stressed the import of translating scientific evidence into operating approaches and policies. He advocated for education, culturalization, skill-building, and community-based initiatives, mainly targeting high-risk populations. He also called for reform in welfare policies, ensuring employment support for rehabilitated individuals. Mr Hosseini added that the State Welfare Organization has launched major community-based programmes, leveraging schools, professional associations, and self-help groups to tackle addiction through grassroots engagement, particularly among women and youth. Mr Alexander Fedulov, the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighted key findings from the UNODC World Drug Report 2024, stating that 292 million people globally have used illicit drugs, with 64 million suffering from drug use disorders. He emphasized that addiction severely affects health and well-being, with the most vulnerable groups—including women, youth, and marginalized populations—bearing the greatest burden. Drug use disorders impose significant societal costs, including healthcare expenses, lost productivity, and legal challenges. Mr Fedulov underscored that scientific research has established drug dependence as a complex health issue best addressed within public health systems, similar to other chronic conditions like HIV. He stressed the importance of evidence-based treatment and harm reduction programs, such as methadone maintenance therapy. He reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to supporting Iran’s Drug Control Headquarters in developing comprehensive drug policies. Mr Fedulov hailed 17th Addiction Scientific Congress as a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and developing comprehensive, public health-focused strategies to tackle drug use. He stressed UNODC’s openness to collaboration and advancing drug policy analysis to enhance treatment and rehabilitation efforts.The ASC provided the opportunity for sharing latest scientific findings for top decision-makers and officials in governmental and non-governmental organizations, academics, researchers, students, therapists, and self-help groups aiming at the advancement of knowledge management for addiction interventions in the country.  UNODC in Iran has always supported the Iranian scientific community in its efforts to better understand this issue and to guide policymakers into making decisions that are evidence-based and backed by science. UNODC set-up an information booth in the congress area where it  briefed the participants on its work in Iran and distributed scientific and communications material to students, scholars, and professionals. The 17th Addiction Science Congress took place from February 12 to 14 at Iran Medical Science University in Tehran, Iran., filtered_html

Tehran, 17 February 2025 – The Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Iran, Mr. Alexander Fedulov, had the first official meeting with Dr. Hossein Zolfaghari, the Secretary General of the Drug Control Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  During this bilateral meeting, Mr. Fedulov congratulated Dr. Zolfaghari on his new position and stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a key and constructive partner in its engagement with the UNODC.  Dr. Zolfaghari in his remarks, highlighted the severe and irreparable human losses and the immense financial damages that the Islamic Republic of Iran has endured in its humanitarian fight against the global drug problem.  The UNODC Country Representative described the ongoing cooperation and joint initiatives between the UNODC and Drug Control Headquarters as highly positive and commendable. He affirmed his and the UNODC’s commitment to expanding collaboration and securing additional financial resources to support Iran’s programs. He further emphasized Iran’s significant role in regional and international efforts to combat drug trafficking. Mr. Fedulov reiterated that the UNODC Office in Tehran remains fully prepared to continue close cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran. , filtered_html