A Colloquium on UN Reform: Views from Iran and Germany

Discussion on the UN reform was organized by the of Iranian Association of UN Studies (IAUNS) with UNIC support at the House of Humanities Intellectual on 11 October 2017 with remarks by UNIC Director Dr. Maria Dotsenko, AVA Diplomatic reports.

Members of UN Association of Germany (Bavaria branch) were special guests of the event.

UNIC Director Dr. Dotsenko briefed the group on the UN Secretary-General’s reform proposals, speaking in details on his proposals in the area of peace and security, UN development system and reform of management.

She quoted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said in order to confront global challenges, the world needs more nimble, efficient and effective UN as an institution and therefore the Secretary-General proposes some reforms.

She said the Secretary-General’s proposals for the UN Secretariat peace and security architecture seek to strengthen the link between political strategies and operations – and between peace and security and the development of the Organization’s work.

During the one-day seminar Chair of the UNA Germany, Bavaria branch Ulrike Renner and President of IAUNS Dr. Nassrin Mossafa elaborated on UN reforms from their respected views.

Then Vice-Chair of UNA Germany, Bavaria branch Dr. Martin Pabst, briefed the participants on “United Nations peacekeeping: German views and contributions” followed by Professor of University of Tehran Dr. Amir Saed Vakil’s remarks on reforming the UN Human Rights Council.

Professor of Alame Tabatabai University Dr. Pouria Askary who spoke about UN reforms and international accountability, member of UNA Germany, Bavaria Branch Taasilo Schmid spoke on international criminal jurisdiction: the responsibility of states and international organizations; Chair of UNA Germany, Bavaria branch Ulrike Renner briefed on the German position towards the United Nations and UN Reform, focusing on the Security Council”; former Iranian diplomat Dr. Hermidas Bavand briefed the participants on proposals of the Security Council reform; Professor of Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ School of International Relations Dr. Seyed Hossein Sadat-Meidani talked about “Peace Through Justice in the Future United Nations”

Participants at “A Colloquium on UN Reform: Views from Iran and Germany”

The seminar ended by concluding remarks of University of Tehran Professors Dr. Ghassem Eftekhari and Dr. Nassrin Mosaffa as well as Dr. Martin Pabst.

UN information materials and promotional items were distributed to the participants and each member of the German delegation received special UNIC Tehran souvenir ( SDGs mug).