TEHRAN –The extensive and acknowledged activities of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) at the national and international levels can be an added value for the BRICS member states, Sergei Alexeyevich Ryabkov, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, has said.

The official has also requested the IRCS to share its knowledge and experiences with member states, the IRCS website reported.

Ryabkov made the remarks in a meeting, held on the sidelines of the fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum, with Razieh Alishvandi, the IRCS director for international affairs.

Alishvandi represented Iran in the fourth forum which was held from September 18 to 20 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Presenting a speech on the empowerment of Iranian women in the forum, the official emphasized the importance of fostering women’s participation in social, economic, and political decision-making.

Referring to the successful activities and experiences of the IRCS in empowering vulnerable women and heads of households, Alishvandi said a large number of women in Iran have benefited from the IRCS training courses including first aid, relief skills, entrepreneurship, resilience in crises, and basic psychological support in Helal (community-owned Red Crescent) Houses.

“They have also been equipped with required job skills. Most of them become entrepreneurs while mastering job skills,” she further noted.

Eurasian Women’s Forum

The Eurasian Women’s Forum is a major influential international platform that enables women leaders from all continents to engage in a dialogue and adopt joint decisions on key issues concerning international cooperation, sustainable economic development, the assimilation of new technologies, a healthy lifestyle, environmental safety, and the promotion of social charitable projects.

The main theme of the Fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum was ‘Women for Strengthening Trust and Global Cooperation’. 

The discussions were held within several thematic platforms including Women Shaping a New Agenda for Peace and Trust; Technologies and Innovations; Women for a Healthy Society and Social Well-Being.

The event was attended by politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists, journalists, and non-profit organization members from Russian regions and more than 120 countries, including Argentina, Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, and Tunisia.

IFRC lauds IRCS

In September, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) project manager, Faisal Mahboob, lauded the capabilities of the  IRCS as outstanding.

The official said he was really impressed by the capacity and the wide range of activities carried out by the IRCS.

 “The International Federation will support the activities of the Iranian Red Crescent Society to commence a new phase of collaboration with the society,” Mahboob added, the IRCS website reported.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting held to follow up on finalizing a roadmap for cooperation.

During the visit, Vincent Cassard, the representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Iran, said the activities of the ICRC in Iran have been defined in three sectors including locating missing people in the Iran-Iraq war in the 80s, supporting foreign nationals in Iran through health, rehabilitation and family reunification projects; and promoting international humanitarian law.

Considering the importance of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region, he added that one of the committee's main activities is to establish effective interactions with the country to meet humanitarian needs and provide aid in the region.

MT/MG