Iran has called on UNESCO and its National Commissions to place peace at the center of their mission and to take a more proactive role in promoting lasting regional and global stability. The appeal was made by Hassan Fartousi, Secretary-General of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO, during the Traditional Meeting of UNESCO National Commissions held virtually on October 8 and 9 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, coinciding with the 225th Session of the Executive Board.
Fartousi highlighted the destructive consequences of war on education, scientific collaboration, and humanity’s shared cultural heritage, emphasizing UNESCO’s mandate to foster peace through education, culture, science, communication, and dialogue. He stressed that National Commissions are critical in bridging UNESCO’s global priorities with local realities and capabilities and identified bolstering cooperation between UNESCO and its national branches as a key objective for Iran.
The meeting, inaugurated by UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany and Assistant Director-General for Africa Priority and External Relations Lidia Brito, focused on reinforcing the role of National Commissions as conduits between UNESCO and member states, enhancing cross-sector collaboration, and improving coordination among field offices.
Earlier in October, Seyyed Ziae Hashemi, head of Iran’s National Committee for Management of Social Transformations (MOST), urged UNESCO to take a leading role in preserving scientific knowledge, maintaining uninterrupted access to education, and restoring academic institutions damaged in conflicts involving Iran. Addressing the extraordinary session of the Intergovernmental Council of the MOST Program on October 1 in Paris, Hashemi underscored the adverse impacts of the US-Israeli military actions on Iran’s educational and scientific infrastructure, cultural heritage, and civilian facilities. He called for international efforts tailored to individual crises that prioritize saving lives, protecting knowledge, and ensuring continuous learning.
Hashemi further drew attention to the “catastrophic dimensions” of the recent conflict in Gaza, which he said inflicted severe damage to civilians, educational establishments, and cultural and scientific activities. He advocated for clearer international commitments through frameworks such as BRIDGES and MOST to safeguard knowledge and support education and research amid crises. Additionally, he raised concerns regarding the restoration of girls’ and women’s right to education in Afghanistan.
Fartousi reiterated the role of science beyond industrial and technological development, describing it as an essential element of human life and understanding. He emphasized that access to knowledge and inclusive participation in research are fundamental human rights. Referring to UNESCO’s open science agenda, he advocated for mechanisms to prevent monopolization of knowledge, facilitate free knowledge exchange, and balance support for researchers with universal access.
The Iranian official also cited the challenges posed by unilateral and coercive measures on researchers and noted the need for the BRIDGES framework to offer practical solutions to dismantle barriers to scientific cooperation. He called for reinforcing the notion of knowledge as a collective human heritage and resource.
The Intergovernmental Council of the MOST Program, established in 1994, is composed of 35 member states elected by UNESCO’s General Conference. It meets biennially to guide and evaluate the program’s implementation, defining priorities that strengthen the connection between social sciences research and public policy. The council also serves as a platform for member states to exchange views on social transformations and to promote inclusive, evidence-based policy development in line with national agendas.