FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, February 26, 2025 – The Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) will be participating in the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.
The main theme of this year’s conference will focus on the review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the outcomes of the 23rd Special Session of the General Assembly. This comprehensive review will assess current challenges to implementing the Platform for Action and achieving gender equality, as well as its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
A prominent delegation of Zoroastrian leaders will attend the event in March 2025, including Anahita Verahrami, Anushe Irani, Azade Aria, Khursheed Ichhaporia, Mahtab B. Dastur, Marina Batliwalla, Mehernaz Kharoliwalla, Panteha Sorouspoor, Parinaz Dastur, Rashna Vaghaiwalla, Yassna Khosravi, Zia Pochkhanawala, Afreed Mistry, and Behram Pastakia. This year, the delegation will present both a virtual parallel event on the environment and an in-person parallel event in partnership with the NGO, Stella’s Girls, on education. Further details about the in-person event in New York will be provided soon.
The virtual parallel event, titled “Women as Environmental Leaders: Addressing Climate Change and Its Impact,” will focus on how climate change disproportionately affects women and the critical role they play in environmental leadership. Discussions will explore the environmental challenges women face, including the unintended effects of environmental degradation on women’s health. A case study will highlight efforts to align school policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the panel will also examine how technology can empower women to lead climate action while conserving water and energy.
This event is open to the public, including those not attending the CSW69 Conference. We invite you to join us in learning, sharing, partnering, and advocating for solutions that address environmental challenges and uplift women globally.
The parallel event details are:
Date: Tuesday, March 11th, 2025
Time: 12:30 PM EST
Panel Speakers:
Anahita Verahrami (she/her)
Anahita (Ana) received her B.S. from Cornell University in 2017 and her M.S. in Conservation Biology from Colorado State University in 2023. She currently serves as the Leadership Communication Specialist for Dean Benjamin Z. Houlton of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University and is a Research Affiliate with the Elephant Listening Project at Cornell University. In addition to her work as a writer and science communicator, she conducts research that focuses on using acoustic monitoring to study and conserve populations of forest elephants in Central Africa. Her research approach is grounded in a decolonial, anti-oppressive, and intersectional feminist framework, which she utilizes to amplify the power of the local communities with whom she partners with. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her two dogs, Oscar and Enzo, and nature and wildlife photography. Website
Anushe Irani
Anushe is a junior at California Polytechnic University studying Environmental Management and Protection with a minor in Photography and Videography. She holds a position on board for the Persian club at California Polytechnic University and is an avid member of the Persian Zoroastrian community located in the Bay Area. She also holds a position as a photographer for Associated Students Incorporated at California Polytechnic University. In her free time she volunteers for various organizations based around environmental management and protection and plans to pursue a profession that aligns with her volunteering efforts. Linkedin Profile
Khursheed Ichhaporia
Khursheed is an Associate Professor of Biology at Oakton College, a minority-serving institution in Illinois. She serves on multiple college committees, including the U.S. Diversity Task Force, the Academic Computing Committee, and the Global Studies Advisory Committee. In addition, she has served on conference proposal review committees for the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) and American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) conferences. A frequent presenter, Khursheed shares expertise on grit and growth mindset, global education integration, and faculty leadership. Recently, she was selected by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) to study climate change and public health in Mongolia. LinkedIn Profile
Rashna Vaghaiwalla
Rashna is a dedicated high school student from Los Angeles, California with a strong academic record, demonstrated leadership, and a passion for service. She is an Eagle Scout who led a 200-hour project to create a community space for Safe Place for Youth, advocating unity and support for the unhoused. Rashna serves as an Honor Council Representative and Gold Ambassador at Marymount High School and is a Head Chair in Model UN, managing conferences and guiding student delegates. Her commitment to community extends to interning at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital Heart Transplant Unit, where she is currently developing resources for pediatric cardiology patients.
Yassna Khosravi
Yassna is a third-year undergraduate student at UCLA, majoring in political science and psychology with a minor in global studies. She hopes to pursue a career in law to advocate for underserved and underrepresented communities. Her involvement in UCLA organizations includes leadership roles in the Middle Eastern Student Association and the Pre-Law Society. Additionally, she is an avid violinist, performing in the UCLA Symphony Orchestra along with numerous Persian cultural celebrations.
Moderator:
Azade Aria
Azadé is a graduate student in the Human Rights and Social Justice program at Thompson Rivers University, originally from India. Her research spans gendered dynamics in the Indian justice system, Zoroastrian beliefs, and the resilience of female acid attack survivors in India. Her work with organizations like the National Association for the Blind, Make Love Not Scars, and Soroptimist International reflects her commitment to equity and inclusion. A Compassion and Resilience fellow with HH the Dalai Lama, Azadé continues her mission as an Intercultural Ambassador, fostering diverse perspectives for impactful social change.
About United Nations
The United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems that challenge humanity. Cooperating in this effort are more than 30 affiliated organizations, known together as the UN system. For more information visit www.un.org
About the Commission on the Status of Women
The CSW is a global governmental body that is dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. This commission was established by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1946. Every year the CSW holds a conference in the winter for a two-week period where UN entities, Member States and Civil Society discuss issues pertaining to women, girls and gender equality.
About FEZANA
Founded in 1987, FEZANA serves as the coordinating body for 27 Zoroastrian Associations throughout the United States and Canada. It is a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the Department of Global Communications (DGC) of the United Nations. FEZANA promotes the study, understanding and practice of the Zoroastrian faith in North America, represents the interest of its member associations and carries out philanthropic and charitable activities worldwide. The FEZANA Journal, FEZANA’s publication of record, circulates to Zoroastrian households in more than 22 countries, as well as to scholars, academicians, and religious organizations worldwide. For more information visit: www.fezana.org
Contact: Afreed Mistry
United Nations Main Representative, FEZANA
Email: Afreed@fezana.org
Phone: +1-416-302-9754
