Message from the Directors of UNESCO Category 2 Centres in Iran to the Director-General of UNESCO Condemning the Israeli Regime’s Recent Attacks and Threats to Scientific and Cultural Infrastructure
| The directors of UNESCO Category 2 Centres in Iran, in an official message to Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, expressed deep concern over the consequences of the recent attacks by the Israeli regime and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran. They described these actions as a serious threat to scientific, cultural and environmental security and called for a firm and responsible response from UNESCO in defence of the fundamental values of peace, science and sustainable development.The full text of the message is as follows: |
Ms. Audrey Azoulay
Director-General of UNESCO
Dear Ms. Azoulay,
We, the directors of UNESCO Category 2 Centres in the Islamic Republic of Iran, wish to express our deep concern regarding the potential consequences of the recent acts of aggression by the Israeli regime and the United States of America against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These attacks have had significant adverse effects on the scientific, cultural and educational activities of our centres at the regional and global levels and run counter to UNESCO’s mission of advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Furthermore, the assassination of scientists, students and university professors by the Israeli regime constitutes a clear violation of international law. Some of these scientists had worked closely with UNESCO in implementing humanitarian activities and educational programs at the local and national levels.
Moreover, the recent attacks on peaceful nuclear infrastructure have had unpredictable social and environmental consequences. There is now a serious risk of nuclear contamination, which could have short- and long-term effects and affect large populations in Iran and neighbouring countries.
These actions not only violate the fundamental principles of international law but also undermine the foundations of intellectual and scientific progress that UNESCO is committed to safeguarding.
We therefore believe that UNESCO’s intervention to condemn these acts of aggression is urgently needed under the current circumstances. The UNESCO Category 2 Centres (C2Cs) in Iran stand ready to support UNESCO in its leading role in managing this crisis, alongside other United Nations agencies.
Respectfully,
The Directors of the Following Centres:
- International Centre on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures (ICQHS)
- Regional Centre for Urban Water Management (RCUWM)
- Regional Research Centre for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia (ICH)
- Regional Centre for Earthquake Risk Management and Resilience in West and Central Asia (RCECWA)
- International Centre for Integrated Watershed Management and Bio-resources in Arid and Semi-arid Regions (ICIMWB)
- Regional Centre for Training and Research in Oceanography for Western Asia (RCOWA)
- International Centre for Basic Sciences Related to Health and Human Nutrition (HRBSHN)
- Regional Centre for Development of Science and Technology Parks and Business Incubators (IRIS)
