TEHRAN, 14 March 2010 – The UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ms. Consuelo Vidal attended the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) photo competition award giving ceremony, which was held at Javan Cultural Centre in Khavaran, Tehran on Tuesday 14 March. During this ceremony, three top selected photos on MDGs were exhibited, along with more than 30 other works, and the first three award-winning photographers received their awards from Consuelo Vidal and the Representative of WHO in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Ambrojio Manenti. The award giving ceremony was followed by an exhibition of the selected works.

This exhibition was arranged by the UN Country Team’s Communications Working Group (UNCG) to enhance and raise awareness among Iranian youth regarding the MDGs through a contest which was advertised publicly in the newspapers in Iran a few months ago. As a result of this call, more than 300 works were sent to the Secretariat of the photo competition, from which 34 works reached semi final. Out of these, three were chosen as the best works and received awards of eight, six and four full Azadi gold coins respectively for their captures of MDGs-related scenes in Iran. Many of the interested amateur and professional photographers from other cities also participated in the contest.

The competition was officially advertised in the Iranian newspapers about three months ago, as a result of which more than 300 works were received. Professional and amateur photographers from Tehran and other provinces participated in the contest. A special committee, holding a number of professional and well-known photographers  and university professors such as Messrs. Masoud Amirlouiee, Sassan Afshahrzadeh and Mohammad-Reza Tahmasbpour  assessed the works received and selected 34 works, amongst which three works were selected as the top three award-winning photographs in line with the MDGs.  The winners were: 1) Mr. Jamshid Farajvand from Bokan, East Azerbaijan province; 2) Mr. Loqman Rahimi from North Khorassan province, and 3) Mr. Amin Nazari from Ahwaz, Khuzestan province.  The awards were handed over to the winners jointly by the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ms. Consuelo Vidal and the Resident Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) in Iran, Dr. Ambrojio Manenti.

The Resident Representative of WHO in Iran, Dr. Ambrojio Manenti mentioned in his opening remarks, ‘The MDGs serve as the shared commitment of 199 member-states of the world, along with the United Nations agencies to eradicate hunger and poverty, realizing gender equality and empowerment for women, mitigation of child mortality rate, providing elementary education for all, improving maternal health, controlling diseases such as HIV/Aids, Malaria and others, ensuring the sustainability of the environment and creating global partnership for development.’ Dr. Menanti  also explained the selection procedures praised the enthusiastic interest in the MDGs from across Iran and signified the good turn-out from other provinces in this contest.

The UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ms. Consuelo Vidal also delivered remarks, in which she expressed joy because the Iranian youth has benefitted from this opportunity in sending photos to the MDGs photo contest. She further considered this a token of Islamic republic of Iran’s commitment to the materialisation of the MDGs. She added, ‘Iran has so far made great efforts in achieving and has so far reached the minimum requirements to achieve the MDGs’, however, she signified that in order to fully achieve these goals, more efforts are required. She reiterated the UN Country Team’s pledge in assisting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on its way to realize these Gaols through common efforts.  Ms. Vidal further cited that the MDGs cover all issues from health to education and environment and added, ‘The world will achieve peace and stability only when these minimum requirements of development are materialised.’ She underscore that these ideals count as the basic rights of each and every person and all should enjoy them.

In addition to the award winning works, 30 other photos were praised and were presented to the public in an exhibition on the side-lines of the Ceremony. The United Nations delegation and a number of officials and interested audience exhibited these works after the awards were handed over.