Joint Visit of UNODC Iran Country Representative and Drug Control Headquarters to Noor-e-Sepid Hedayat Comprehensive Harm Reduction Center in Tehran
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Tehran, 15 September 2021 – Mr. Alexander Fedulov, Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Iran, Mr. Amir Abbas Lotfi, Director General of International Relations Office of the Drug Control Headquarters (DCHQ), and Dr. Reza Tooyserkani-Manesh, Director-General of Treatment and Social Support Department of DCHQ visited the Noor-e-Sepid Hedayat Comprehensive Harm Reduction Center in Tehran. The visit was organized by DCHQ.
Dr. Kambiz Mahzari and Ms. Maryam Omidi, responsible experts for Harm Reduction, Prevention and Treatment of Addiction Directorate of State Welfare Organization as well as a number of experts from DCHQ and UNODC Iran also joined the visit.
The visit was organized in line with the outcome of the high-level web-meeting between the DCHQ Secretary General, Mr. Momeni, and UNODC Executive Director, Ms. Wali in 2020, during which the priority for improving service provision for vulnerable women and children affected by drug addiction was reiterated.
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The visited center, Noor-e-Sepid Hedayat Comprehensive Harm Reduction Center, is a non-governmental organization established in 2009 under the supervision of the State Welfare Organization of Iran. The center is located in Shoush area and works in the field of prevention of addiction and implementation of specialized projects to reduce social harms. The center provides round the clock services for reducing social harms in women, through education, prevention and empowerment by supporting female drug users, socially harmed women, mothers and children, and tries to be a safe haven for this vulnerable group.
The center has an overnight shelter for temporary and night accommodation of homeless drug users with high-risk behaviors, and provides them with round-the-clock services and hot meals. Sheltered homeless women and girls could use the services of this center for three months up to one year during which they are provided with assistance and counselling services to enter the community without substance use, as well as classes to learn life skills and resilience for empowerment and change in lifestyles, and vocational training such as sewing.
UNODC Iran Sub-Programme 3 on “Drug Use Prevention, Treatment, Rehabilitation, and HIV Care” in line with its mission to enhance comprehensive and evidence-based drug use prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration, with special emphasis on the high risk groups, and in coordination with DCHQ, will support the center with technical assistance in the form of capacity development and trainings, required to enhance the level of services that this center provides for help-seekers.
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For further information please contact:
Gelareh Mostashari (Ms.)
Senior Expert, Drug Demand Reduction
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: gelareh.mostashari@un.org