With the presence of chairperson of MOCT association of Hiroshima, and a delegation of MOCT’s members, a ceremony to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the collaboration between MOCT and the Iranian SCWVS (Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support) -which has founded Tehran Peace Museum, held on Monday 14 October 2013 in Tehran Peace Museum.

In this ceremony despite from MOCT delegation, SCWVS president and a group of chemical weapons victims and survivors, physicians, members and volunteers of TPM, artists and media representatives were present. During this ceremony, representatives and members of both NGOs shared cultural and scientific achievements and memories of these 10 years of collaboration in a friendly atmosphere.

To see the photos of this event, please click here.

The chairperson and a group of members of MOCT association of Hiroshima visited Iran on 12-16 October 2013.

Mrs. Shizuko Tsuya, Chairperson of MOCT, and a delegation of MOCT’s members traveled to Iran to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the exchange program between MOCT and the Iranian SCWVS (Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support) -which has founded Tehran Peace Museum. During these five days of stay, the delegation hosted by the museum, and have attended in several meetings to discuss on ways of continue this collaboration and exchange programs; and have visited several CW victims and survivors in Tehran and Hamadan.

It has been 10 years that a delegation from MOCT attend in the memorial ceremony for Victims of Chemical Warfar on 29 June each year; and invite a delegation from Tehran Peace Museum and SCWVS to attend the in Hiroshima peace memorial ceremony on the anniversary of the atomic bomb attack on 6th of August.

On 14 October 2013, the Chemical Weapons Convention -CWC- entered into force for the Syrian Arab Republic, making it the 190th State Party to the treaty. Syria deposited its instrument of accession with the United Nations Secretary-General on 14 September.

At its 74th session in October 2013, the OPCW Executive Council noted the accession of the Syrian Arab Republic and urgently called upon all States not Party to the Convention to join without delay or precondition.

North Korea, Egypt, South Sudan, Angola, Israel and myanmar have not joined the CWC yet, known as 6 states non party to the convention.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday 11 October. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said the OPCW won the award "for its extensive efforts" to rid the world of such weapons. "The conventions and the work of the OPCW have defined the use of chemical weapons as a taboo under international law," the committee said. "Recent events in Syria, where chemical weapons have again been put to use, have underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons." The $1.25 million Nobel Peace Prize will be presented in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the awards in his 1895 will.

The OPCW was entablished in the Hague in 1997 following entering into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention which has 189 member states at the moment. the OPCW is currently overseeing the destruction of Syria's chemical arsenal.

Mr Yves Rossier, State Secretary of  Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland and the Ambassador of Switzerland in Tehran visited the Tehran Peace Museum on Tuesday  08 October 2013.

At the entrance of the museum they laid flower and lit a candle in tribute of all victims of chemical warfare and prayed for peace.

Following their visit, the diplomatic delegations had a friendly chat with the director and volunteer guides of the peace Museum who are war survivors and victims of chemical warfare.

The TPM members appreciated the role of Switzerland in efforts for peace and humanitarian assistance to war victims and hoped for elimination of WMD from the world.

To see the photos of this event click here.

A ceremony co-organized by UNESCO cluster office in Iran and Tehran Peace Museum was held in Sooreh Hall on Thursday 03 October 2013 to commemorate the Peace Week.

Following the reading of the messages of UN Secretary General, UNESCO Director General and the Tehran Peace Museum, an Iranian Film “Taj mahal” was shown following an introduction by its young director Dansh Eghbashawi.

Three  winners of the “55-word story for peace competition” were also awarded during the ceremony

More than 200 officials, Diplomats, artists, war veterans and other citizens attended the ceremony. To see the Photos of this program, Click here.

The UN Security Council simulation (UN Model) was held at Tehran Peace Museum on 19 September 2013. It was co-organized by the International Studies Journal (ISJ) in cooperation with UNIC (United Nations Information Center). More than 30 graduate and post graduate students of international relations and law as well as political science from different universities from across Iran participated in the simulation which addressed the issue of crisis in Syria.

Renowned Iranian political scientist and university professor Dr. Davoud Hermidas-Bavand was the honorary guest of the program who assisted the President of the SC, the Australian delegation. The one-day session concluded with the adoption of a resolution.

According to an agreement with ISJ, from now on, there would be similar UN model at Tehran Peace Museum, every year in the last week of September.

To see the photos of this event, please click here.

The second session of a workshop on "Refugees, Humanitarian Assistance and Efforts toward Peaceful Life" was held at Tehran Peace Museum on 25 September 2013.

In the workshop which was a joint program of the UN Refugee Agency -UNHCR- and the TPM, over 30 students and TPM volunteers participated to discuss different topics including:

History and mission of the UNHCR, basic facts, terminology, and the refugees challenges. To see the photos of the workshop click here.

On Saturday 21 September, an observance for the International Peace Day was held in Tehran Peace Museum.

Many NGO representatives, activists, young people, artists, war survivors as well as representatives of International organizations a diplomats attended the ceremony.

During the program, Mr Ban Ki moon's message was read by UN resident coordinator in Iran, Mr Gary Lewis, then the message of UNESCO was read by Secretary General of National commission of UNESCO.

Reading the message of Tehran Peace Museum by a war victims, traditional music performance by a chemical warfare survivor, children's song and lighting candle were other parts of the program.

To see photos of the ceremony click here.

To read the message of Tehran Peace Museum, click here.

Ms Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Visited the Tehran Peace Museum on Monday 16 September.

Following her visit to the museum, she had a meeting with board members and a group of chemical warfare survivors who are volunteer guides of the museum and discussed the role of war survivors in raising awareness against violence and in promoting the culture of peace.

Ms Amos was accompanied by a number of her colleagues from UN-OCHA (office for coordination of humanitarian affairs ) and Mr Gary Lewis, the UN resident coordinator in Iran.