Statement by
Mr. Mohammad Reza Sahraei
First Counselor
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
Before the United Nations Commission for Social Development
New York, 15 February 2021
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Madam Chair,
It gives me great privilege to address today the 59th Session of the Commission for Social Development. I would like to take this opportunity and extend my sincerest congratulations to you and the other members of the bureau on your election.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a pioneer developing country, is implementing its "6th Five-year National Development Plan" through the reinforcement of a knowledge-based economy together with the development of advanced technology among a wide variety of subjects. In this connection, a strong legal and legislative framework has been created, providing a solid platform for planning, implementation and follow-up of national development strategies and policies, particularly for poverty eradication. Significant achievements have been made so far despite the external challenges ranging from unlawful unilateral sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the education front, Iran has approached its full realization by ending illiteracy and providing universal free public education up to secondary school and higher education. The paramount significance attached to education has resulted in an average of 15% of household expenditure being spent on education at all levels. As a result, the literacy rate is currently above 97% of the population. It is also worth noting that around 400,000 Afghan students, regardless of their status, have been registered in Iranian schools.
During the COVID-19 crisis, the Iranian Ministry of Education took significant measures toward remote learning approaches including, but not limited to, educational programs on television as well as launching a domestic educational application to facilitate online distance learning called “SHAD” to meet the training needs of 13.5 million students, teachers and migrants throughout the country.
Pertaining to women and their participation in social as well as economic sectors, currently 27% of faculty members, more than 50% of college students, and almost 37% of medical doctors are comprised of women. At the decision-making level, there has been a 60% increase in women's appointments, and based on current data, the goal previously set for 2020 dedicating 30% of national decision-making positions to women is now going to be realized.
Under the current circumstances, the Government of Iran has provided special financial packages for the poor and marginalized population, has provided economic support measures, especially for small businesses, and implemented testing and treatment coverage programs for 3.5 million legal and illegal Afghan immigrants.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The COVID-19 pandemic affects every single person today. Women, children, medical personnel, refugees, migrants, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic diseases are the most affected. In fact, the pandemic has made the negative humanitarian effect of unilateral illegal sanctions more obvious and more disastrous.
The illegal sanctions have hampered easy access of those in affected countries, including my Country, to basic medical items and requirements thus endangering the lives and health of its citizens. Medicines, medical supplies and health commodities have been targeted through tight restrictions of foreign exchange resources, even for these humanitarian issues. This violates the right to health of their populations.
The deteriorating economic situation, due to illegal sanctions, severely affects the exercise of economic and labor rights which in the long run, results in poverty and impedes the achievement of sustainable development goals. Access to information and communication technology also plays an important role in the fight against pandemics. Making this access difficult results in the violation of the right to education. The obstruction to obtain medicine, medical care, food, electricity and fuel results in the violation of the right to life of those who are infected by COVID-19 as well as those who cannot get medical help and medication while suffering from other diseases or are unable to access hospitals.
As the representative of a Country whose people are subjected to the most brutal economic terrorism and illegitimate unilateral coercive measures by the Government of the United States, I would like to seize this opportunity to call for the complete and immediate lifting of unilateral coercive measures in order to ensure the full achievement of economic and social development as well as enable targeted countries to effectively protect their populations in the face of COVID-19 in order to repair their economies while guaranteeing the well-being of their people in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated unpreparedness within the global community in their response to a pandemic. Global preparedness and emergency response must be at the forefront of the agenda of governments and international agencies for decades to come. Leadership, solidarity, inter-sectoral collaboration, evidence-based interventions and coordination between countries are the tools needed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, we need to strengthen the IT infrastructure to provide more reliable data as well as access to tele-medicine and tele-education in the new era. I would like to emphasize the vital importance of global solidarity and international cooperation, with the full support to the WHO as the unique platform for Global Health activities, to overcome this pandemic. Timely, cost-effective and equitable access of all nations to diagnostic, medical equipment, medicines and vaccines are crucial, with no discrimination, sanctions or unjustifiable prioritization.
This pandemic has reminded us of the importance of integrity, solidarity and collaboration at local, regional, and global levels. While we are committed to the UNGA resolutions and political declarations on UHC (Universal Health Coverage), there is a need to re-visit the targets, financing and approaches as a response to the pandemic which heavily hit the health infra-structures, health work force and the economies. In this regard, I call upon international financial organizations to provide more substantial financial support to Member States during this trying and unpredictable time, regardless of political impediments.
I thank you.