Commemoration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities

UNIC NIO Mohammad R. Moghadam delivered the SG’s message during a ceremony organized by NGO Ra’ad Charity Institute on the occasion the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the Ra’ad auditorium on 3 December 2018, AVA Diplomatic reports.

The ceremony began by remarks of Head of Board of Directors of Ra’ad Charity Institute Dr. Maryam Rasoulian who welcomed the participants and said rights to job, marriage, education etc. are for everyone living in any society and thus disabled persons should not be excluded from their rights.

Participants at ceremony marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Ra’ad Charity Institute auditorium

Afterwards, UNIC NIO Moghadam delivered the SG’s message on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Then, Ms. Soheila Moghadampour and Mr. Ashkan Sadr were awarded for their 24 years of service and dedication to disabled persons by members of the board of directors of Ra’ad.

The next speaker was UNESCO Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran Mr. Alexander Leicht who delivered the message of UNESCO Director General Ms Audrey Azoulay for the audience.

He said every year, as we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we stand together to tackle discrimination against the more than one billion people worldwide who live with some form of disability. It is an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to work for their inclusion and empowerment through education, the sciences, culture and communication and information.

He added that innovative solutions in all societal domains are urgently needed to address the extreme vulnerability experienced by persons with disabilities.

Ra’ad traditional music band performing on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Mr. Leicht pointed out that the growing number of Member States that have ratified the 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) – 177 in total – indicates a paradigm shift in the way we address the issue of disability. Yet, persons with disabilities continue to face discrimination, violence, stigma, and exclusion.

“We must integrate persons with disabilities into all decision-making and policies. This means encouraging their participation in political, social and cultural life to build a world that is pluralistic, open, participatory and knowledge-based. This is how our societies will become truly inclusive,” he added.

Other speaker of the ceremony was Chancellor of Practical and Scientific University of Western Tehran Dr. Shahriyar Farahmandrad who praised the efforts of Ra’ad Charity Institute for educating, training and empowering persons with disabilities.

During the ceremony the following disabled athletes, university graduates, artists and intellectual received awards from Ra’ad Charity Institute officials: Mr. Hossein Khorsand Amiri, Ms. Zahra Haghi-Vineh, Mr. Reza Abedi, Mr. Mojtaba Behjati, Mr. Seyyed Mahmoud Tabatabaei-Jafari, Mr. Mohammad Mehdi Babaei, Ms. Fatemeh Islami, Mr. Mohammad Reza Abedi, Ms. Fereshteh Jamshidi and Ms. Saeideh Dashtbani.