Across the world, one
person in nine goes to sleep hungry every night.
It is true that according to The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014
Report, the total number of hungry people in the world is down by 37 million,
to 805 million. It is also true that a total of 63 countries have reached
international hunger-reduction targets before 2015. This is proof of the
progress which is possible when governments, humanitarian organizations and the
private sector come together to make lasting change.
Nonetheless, much remains to be done if we are to ensure that the world’s food
– of which enough is produced to feed everyone, if it were equitably
distributed – is better managed.
As part of this
awareness-raising, every year, on 16 October, people across the world
commemorate World Food Day. The UN’s two main “food security” agencies –
World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) –
normally use this occasion to draw attention to the problem of food
insecurity. This year, in Tehran, both agencies commemorated World Food
Day, whose theme was Family Farming.
In an innovative
effort to raise funds, WFP Iran organized an art exhibition entitled Art for
Humanity which was inaugurated on 17 October at Niavaran Cultural House and
will run till 24 October.
Present at the launch were: Deputy Minister for
Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mr. Ali Moradkhani; Head of Niavaran Cultural
House, Mr. Abbas Sajjadi; ambassadors, Iranian Medical Council Director of
International Affairs, Dr. Shima Naghavi, artists, media as well as members of
the UN team including WFP Representative, Ms. Negar Gerami and UN Resident
Coordinator in Iran, Mr. Gary Lewis.
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In his opening
remarks, Mr. Sajjadi quoted the poet Sa’adi’s well-known verse: “Human beings
are members of a whole. In creation of one essence and soul. If one
member is afflicted with pain. Other members uneasy will remain. If
you have no sympathy for human pain. The name of human you cannot
retain”. He continued by commending WFP for putting together such a
valuable collection of artwork and expressed the hope that humanity would – one
day – celebrate the end of hunger at the Niavaran Cultural Center.”
WFP Advisor, Ms. Shokoufeh Malekiani also spoke at the event. “I am proud
of this movement. I started this project with 32 artists and this year
this number has increased to 100. This shows the level of commitment of
the artists to our cause – eradicating hunger.”
Speaking next, Mr. Gary Lewis said: “Hunger is the world’s biggest solvable
problem. Iran has made great advances in recent decades in reducing the
number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger – which is the objective
of Millennium development Goal number 1. But there are still people with
whom we are working with the Government to support – especially vulnerable
camp-based refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq.” Mr. Lewis expressed
heartfelt appreciation for the over 100 individuals – some Iranian masters,
some emerging artists – who donated their “labours of love” to raise funds to
help people have healthy, nutritious food in order to lead active lives.
Prior to inaugurating
the exhibition Ms. Negar Gerami highlighted the importance of art and
humanitarianism in Iranian culture. She said: “When we were choosing a
name for the collection that is being exhibited today the only name that came
to mind was Art for Humanity, as we believe humanitarianism is an art and we Iranians
are masters of this art. Special thanks goes to the artist many of whom
are present here today, without whom this endeavor would not have been
possible, who donated their works to us with one aim- to end global hunger.”
Ms. Gerami thanked
the Niavaran Cultural center for its contribution and support. And she
thanked Ms. Malekianni who had worked tirelessly for an entire year to collect
these pieces and the small WFP team of 15 who had gone the extra mile and
working well beyond the call of duty to make the event happen.
The exhibition is open to the public. All
proceeds from the exhibition will be contributed to the work of WFP in Iran.
Dr.Shima Naghavi, Director of
International Affairs