“We are celebrating forty years of hard work to improve women’s lives as core agents of development; we are here to share the strong will to face challenges; we are here to present the positive impacts and the value of partnership. We believe that the close collaboration between UNFPA and the government of I.R. of Iran and particularly Ministry of Health has indeed resulted in tangible and valuable outcomes.”

Today, we are here to look back and celebrate the road we passed together. I am indeed happy that we have enough reasons to celebrate achievements that are the result of efforts of women and men who dedicated their time and energy to achieve these outcomes.    It is the result that now we can look back and talk about them. 

I join my colleagues from United Nations to congratulate this occasion to the Iranian people and the Iranian government. I am proud to witness the achievements of a country with rich culture and noble faith.

Among us are the champions whose knowledge; faith and dedication lead the country’s health system to high international standards.  Some are not with us anymore but we still can benefit from their efforts and move forward.  I am proud to be the Representative of UNFPA Iran where three international population award winners are among its government officials and academicians.

We are celebrating forty years of hard work to improve women’s lives as core agents of development; we are here to share the strong will to face challenges; we are here to present the positive impacts and the value of partnership. We believe that the close collaboration between UNFPA and the government of I.R. of Iran and particularly Ministry of Health and medical education has indeed resulted in tangible and valuable outcomes.

Upon the countries commitments to the Programme of Action of ICPD in 1994, the reproductive health programmes, were integrated into the primary health care system of the country.  This followed by planning and implementation of joint country programmes in line with the national plans and strategies and support to the health policies of the country. We, at UNFPA, have kept our mission’s focus on women’s health as one of the most crucial elements for supporting the country’s development agenda.

Through UNFPA, Iran became fully engaged in 1994 ICPD conference.  We are proud to have been part of this engagement and presence of Iran that was and has been instrumental in developing the Plan of Action.  That engagement brought about a different vision and direction to what UNFPA has been doing throughout the world during the last 25 years.  

For integration of reproductive health into PHC, UNFPA has worked for years with Family Health Dept., in providing technical expertise; in developing guidelines and protocols making sure that it adopts international standards.  We supported establishment of pre and in marriage counseling taking into consideration cultural and religious context.  UNFPA has supported many research and studies in order to enhance availability of data and evidence for better programming and planning in the area of maternal health including STI. 

Throughout these years, considering the achievements of I.R Iran in area of health, UNFPA has been pioneer in advocating these achievements through south-south collaboration.  Iran, through UNFPA’s efforts has had visitors from most of the countries in the region.  They have admired and learned from Iran.   At the same time, we have also facilitated incoming missions from north and south in order for Iran to learn from experiences of the other countries.

Within the agreed objectives of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the country’s new population policies, UNFPA is supporting the government in its programmes related to aged people.  The life expectancy of Iranian people has increased during the past decades reaching to about 73 years for men and about 76years for women.  This issue has been addressed in the macro policies of the country like many other countries in the region.  In line with this policy, together with the Ministry of Labor, Cooperative and Social Welfare, HelpAge International and other partners, UNFPA Iran Country Office organized a regional conference on ageing last October.  About 120 dignities, academicians and governments’ high officials from 25 countries participated in the conference to exchange their knowledge and experiences with regard to this issue. The aged people’s health, income and social inclusion were discussed during the conference.  We believe that all countries could benefit their population if they are healthy, live with dignity and are counted as members of the society. 

The work is not over, because not only we need to do better and more but also there are new challenges that we need to address together.    We have been trying to complement and support the programmes of the government and we will continue to do so.  However, at the same time, we have not and we will not turn our eyes on the issues which we believe, from UNFPA’s perspective, needs more attention or have to be addressed, in order for Iran to maintain its achievements. 

We are here to celebrate our common achievements and show our strength in addressing challenges.  We, at UNFPA, will continue our support to the plans and policies related to women’s health and believe that reproductive health is a life cycle approach for improving the lives of women; it empowers families and paves way for the country to reach the peak of its development plans.  We believe that healthy and educated women are the main pillars of a developed society.

I.R. of Iran’s government in close collaboration with its partners has succeeded to empower women, improve their health, and create opportunities for them to educate and have better lives.  We believe that by educating a girl we empower a woman, a family, a community, a nation and the world.

Thank you.