On 1 October 2016, the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO hosted a meeting to commemorate World Peace Day. The theme of the Day and the meeting were “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”.
The meeting initiated with a welcome speech by Dr Sheida Mahnam, Head of the Social and Human Sciences Department of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO. She thanked the international and national participants, especially Professor Abolfazl Beheshti, Member to the “Think Tank” of the European Institutions in Brussels and Professor of International Relations and Energy in Paris. She then emphasised the importance of the international days proclaimed by UNESCO, introducing them as an opportunity for the international scientific community to rethink the importance attached to these days, the reasons for their proclamation as well as UNESCO’s objectives, the most important of which is “building peace”. She then read parts of the message of the UNESCO Director General, reiterating the DG’s words that “These are turbulent times, for humanity, for the planet”. In the words of the DG “Poverty remains enduring, just as inequalities are deepening. Conflicts continue to tear societies apart, exposing millions of women and men to immense suffering. Violent extremism is on the rise – barbarous acts of terror strike at communities in every region”, this is why building peace is the essence of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and UNESCO’s activities. “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development contains a new agenda for building peace, human rights and human dignity, justice and prosperity and for sustainability and conservation of our living planet”, said the speaker. She said sustainable development and peace are interlinked such that neither would be established in the absence of the other, explaining this as the thrust of the Iran-NatCom’s activities.
The meeting continued under Dr Sadollah Nasiri Gheydari, Secretary General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO. He initially welcomed the participants and expressed his gratitude to the international invitees for attending the event and for their presence in Iran and the NatCom. He continued by explaining the SDGs, emphasising SDG4 and the importance attached to education by UNESCO and other international entities. He explained about the activities currently undertaken in the IR of Iran for implementing SDG4, including the establishment of 30 task groups for drawing up a National Education 2030 Document, the reports of which are prepared and are currently being evaluated for submission to the Cabinet. The Secretary General also explained that since its membership in the UNESCO Executive Board, the activities of the IR of Iran are mainly focused on achieving the 17 SDGs, especially education in all its dimensions.
The next speaker, Professor Beheshti, initially paid tribute to the National Sacred Defence Week and the martyrs of the imposed war in the IR of Iran. He introduced war as the main obstacle to growth and development in the world and called for a more strengthened national and international will power to prevent wars by means of education and to build universal peace and promote it. He then brought examples of the violent and extremist acts and atrocities of the Daesh (ISIS) group in the region and neighbouring countries, devastating their civilisations, and called for the greater interference of world powers for demolishing these groups and their barbarous acts that are a big threat to world peace and tranquility. “Universal unity and integrity is the only means to put an end to such atrocities”, said the speaker.
The session continued with the scientific speeches of Professor Raoul Weiler (University of Leuven – KU Leuven), Professor Dorien De Tombe (Delft University of Technology, Netherlands), Professor Abdelatif Alexandre Fekkak (Georgetown University (Washington DC)), Professor Said El-Fassi (Former Minister of Housing and Regional Planning in Morocco), and Professor Peter Gramatikov (Vice President of BRIDGES “Estem European Forum for Dialogue”). The speeches of the said speakers are accessible through the following link:
The closing ceremony saw to the awarding of certificates and souvenirs to the speakers by the Secretary General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESO.
A live traditional Iranian music performance by the Datam artistic group, headed by Mr Anaram Zahraei, wrapped up the session.
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