Hawzah News Agency – Khazali made the remarks addressing the 66th Commission on the Status of Women, Ministerial round table entitled: Weather Management, Environment, and Natural Disasters: Promoting Gender Parity through Comprehensive, Integrated Action from Global to Local Level.

The full text of Khazali speech is as follows:

In the Name of God

Madam President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a country prone to climate change in the world, and being familiar with the effects of natural hazards and disasters on the people's enjoyment of human rights, particularly those of women, the Islamic republic of Iran pays serious attention to rigorous and practical planning to manage climate, environment, and disasters.

In this regard, the followings are some of the important measures my country has taken to manage climate change and women's status:

A contract was signed between the Vice-Presidency and the Department of Environment to empower women and increase their contribution to the protection of the environment.

1171 women work at the Department of the Environment and women account for 40% of the deputies of the Department. Besides, a quarter of the macro-management positions of the country's environment are occupied by women.

Women have also been in charge of the Department of the Environment for 4 terms so far. In addition, hundreds of women CEOs serve in knowledge-based companies working in the field of environment, biotechnology, and energy.

And it is an honor to announce that a woman also serves as the secretary of the National Working Group on the Adaptation to Water Shortage.

Considering the role of education and culture-building, particularly in the stages of preparation and prevention, the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Department of Environment has designed a textbook entitled Man and Environment. Other activities include the establishment of green (environment-friendly) schools, establishment of passive defense colleges and research centers with thousands of graduate students, training thousands of women aid workers by the Red Crescent Organization of Iran, virtual and in-person training on first aid for women volunteers, provision of training to prepare for disasters to thousands of women including how to tackle covid- 19 pandemic to hundreds of thousands of women.

Furthermore, thousands of students (boys and girls) are currently serving as environmental volunteers in the country.

Against a backdrop of climate change, the Islamic Republic of Iran that is the current coordinator of the IORA women working group has made plans to provide services in the field of women and children's health not only to its own citizens but also to those individuals who have sought refuge in Iran from neighboring countries over years due to reasons including war, drought, natural disasters, and the like.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This conference is pursuing equality between men and women, but one should ask: “do women across the world enjoy equality among themselves before pursuing equality with men?”

If women are victimized as a result of pressures imposed by war, terror and natural disasters, would they be equally treated by the international communities and media, or, is it in reality their race, color, geographical position, and in one word the political power, that defy their “equality” status?

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to this point that large numbers of Iranian companies working on the environment are under the pressure of heavy sanctions and I would like to raise the question as to whether the environmental commitments of countries, including the commitment related to the transfer of technologies from northern to southern countries, and the commitment for international collaborations are possible to be implemented against a backdrop of unilateral coercive measures? Does the failure to honor such commitments restrain women from tackling climate change?

Isn't it time for the international and regional organizations and member states to become more aware of the negative effects and consequences of sanctions on women and children?

Thank you