Post-conflict and natural disaster areas the focus of 9th annual meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors

Paris, 13 May

• © UNESCO

More than twenty UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors – influential celebrities who defend UNESCO’s ideals – will examine the best ways of promoting UNESCO’s activities in post-conflict and natural disaster zones, during their annual meeting organized at UNESCO Headquarters on 14 May. These humanitarian and reconstruction operations aim to promote reconciliation and consolidate peace in zones whose social fabric has been damaged by conflicts or natural disasters.

UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura will open the meeting (7th floor Meeting Room, 10 a.m.). It will be attended by Valdas Adamkus, President of Lithuania; Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan; Patrick Baudry; Pierre Bergé; Chantal Biya, First Lady of Cameroon; Claudia Cardinale; H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover; Cheick Modibo Diarra; Miguel Angel Estrella; Vigdís Finnbogadóttir; H.R.H. Princess Firyal of Jordan; Ikuo Hirayama; Vitaly Ignatenko; H.R.H. Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco; Jean Malaurie; Kitin Munoz; Ute-Henriette Ohoven; Cristina Owen-Jones; Kim Phuc Phan Thi; Susana Rinaldi; H.E. Sheikh Ghassan I. Shaker; Madanjeet Singh; Zurab Tsereteli; Giancarlo Elia Valori and Marianna Vardinoyannis.*


These celebrities, who put their fame and charisma at the service of UNESCO, promote its objectives and activities all over the world. Some belong to committees or councils in charge of specific UNESCO programmes. Some are involved in events such as concerts or exhibitions aimed at raising funds for the Organization, while others launch projects such as local radio stations, early childhood training centres and science workshops. The Goodwill Ambassadors participate notably in campaigns concerning education, the fight against HIV/AIDS and the protection of street children.


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Only the opening of the meeting by the Director-General at 10 a.m. is open to the press.
A photo session will be held 14 May from 12.45 to 1 p.m.

• Author(s):UNESCOPRESS
• Source:UNESCO Media Advisory No. 2009-28
• 14-05-2009