Launching The National Committee for Civil Society Organizations and Social Responsibility of The Iranian National Commission for UNESCO

The first meeting of the National Committee for Civil Society Organizations and Social Responsibility of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO was held on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at the Commission’s premises, with the participation of its individual and institutional members. The meeting concluded with the election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the National Committee.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Secretary-General of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO introduced the Commission’s missions and capacities, presented a report on its performance, and outlined the structure and operational mechanisms of the specialized committees for the new term.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Seyed Morteza Khatami, Deputy for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education; Dr. Abdolamir Nabavi, Secretary of the Iranian Commission of Scientific Associations; Dr. Hashem Hosseini Al-Madani, Acting Head of the Relief and Rescue Organization of the Iranian Red Crescent Society; and Dr. Ali Khorsandi Taskouh, President of the Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education. Dr. Farid al-Din Haddad Adel, Dr. Somayeh Tohidloo, Dr. Mahmoud Reza Golshan-Pajouh and Eng. Alireza Siasi-Rad participated as individual members.

Representatives of the Ministry of Interior’s Social Affairs Organization; the State Welfare Organization of Iran; the Deputy for Entrepreneurship Development and Employment at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare; the Deputy for Education and Public Participation at the Department of Environment; and the Department for International Specialized Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also attended the meeting.

 

At the conclusion of the meeting, following the election of the Committee’s executive board, Dr. Seyed Morteza Khatami was elected Chair and Dr. Somayeh Tohidloo Vice-Chair of the National Committee for Civil Society Organizations and Social Responsibility.

In his remarks, Dr. Khatami, Deputy for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, emphasized the potential of civil society organizations and associations, meeting the needs of the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, advancing scientific and cultural diplomacy, and engaging with international legal forums. Dr. Tohidloo, in turn, highlighted strengthening the role of civil society organizations and ensuring the fullest possible participation of members as essential to achieving the Committee’s objectives.

 

At the end of the meeting, appointment certificates for the individual members, signed by the Minister of Science, Research and Technology and President of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO, were presented.