Students and Civil Society Activists learned more about NGOs and Peace

Iranian Association of UN Studies (IAUNS) with cooperation of United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) and Tehran Peace Museum held a workshop on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and peace for some 16 students of law from Tehran universities and representatives of civil society organizations on 14 February 2016 at the UN building, AVA Diplomatic reports.

In her remarks, President of IAUNS Dr. Nasrin Mosaffa thanked UNIC for its continued cooperation during 15 years of existence of IAUNS.

Dr. Hengameh Ghazanfari professor of Khoram Abad Branch- Azad University delivered a lecture on NGOs and peace. Then she asked participants in three working groups to discuss the following questions:

• Mechanisms to improve the legal status of NGOs and their acceptance as one of the actors in the realm of international law;
• Types of NGO activities, which are more effective in peacemaking and peacebuilding in the Middle East;
• Challenges which NGOs face regarding peace issues.

UNIC librarian Ms. Nazanin Ghaemmaghami educated the audience on how to find UN information and documentation related to NGOs and peace. She introduced the webpages of Peace and Security as one of the Global Issues, University for Peace, International Peace and Security as a key issue of the UN and Maintain International Peace and Security webpage including Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding Commission and so forth. Then there was a navigation through Civil Society webpage including Non-Governmental Liaison Service, Consultative status with the Economic and Social Council  as well as Association with DPI.

One of the participants Mr. Ghahremai from “Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism” with ECOSOC consultative status, said “It was an opportunity for me to participate in this workshop and learn more about the role of NGOs in peacebuilding. I am now better prepared to navigate UN websites and it will help me with my research”.