United Nations Information Center (UNIC) Director, Dr. Maria Dotsenko delivered the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s message on the occasion of International Women’s Day during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the establishment of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Cultural Institute (ECI) at ECI building on 6 March 2018.

Addressing a large audience including foreign and Iranian diplomats, movie stars and general public, Dr Dotsenko quoting the Secretary-General said: “We at the United Nations stand with women around the world as they fight to overcome the injustices they face – whether they are rural women dealing with wage discrimination, urban women organizing for change, women refugees at risk of exploitation and abuse, or women who experience intersecting forms of discrimination: widows, indigenous women, women with disabilities and women who do not conform to gender norms”.

Other speakers of the ceremony were Secretary-General of ECO Mr. Halil Ibrahim Akca and President of ECO Cultural Institute Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Mazaheri. 

The ceremony continued with special events featuring cultural shows on Nowrouz, the Iranian New Year, Women and Peace entitled “Sine Hashtom: Sindokht” as well as traditional Iranian music performances and Shahnameh (Book of Kings) recitation focusing on women. Sindokht means the girl of wisdom and knowledge and we can consider her as the first feminine Ambassador of Peace.

Her white peace cloth is the result of the cooperation of women living in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikestan and Pakistan.A stamp with the name of Sindokht has been unveiled oat this occasionThe calligraphy is from M. Said Yazdanmehr, Cultural and Artistic Director of Dr Rahgoshay Museum. Mrs Myriam Goetz-Rahgoshay presented Dr Rahgoshay Museum Ethnic Dolls to the President of ECO Cultural Institute ,Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Mazaheri and to M. Bunyad Huseynov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Video clip of the ceremony:

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• Ms. Gity Khameneh Ms. Gity Khameneh
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• Traditional Table Decorations for Nowrouz Traditional Table Decorations for Nowrouz
• Dolls on th HaftSin table Dolls on th HaftSin table
• Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Mazaheri Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Mazaheri
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Recitation of the Book of the Kings of Ferdowsi by the Group of Children "Ambassadors of Peace and Friendship”: