Goodwill Ambassadors
Honorary Ambassador
Special Envoys
Champions
Artists for Peace
Newsletter
|
| Sixth Annual Meeting of UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassadors |
17-03-2006 9:00 am From 15 to 16 March 2006, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris was the venue for an impressive gathering of the Organization’s Goodwill Ambassadors. The 2006 Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, convened by the Director-General, brought together a large number of these outstanding personalities, who come from the worlds of art, film, music, literature, charity and public affairs. The two-day meeting aimed at reviewing activities undertaken by the Goodwill Ambassadors since the previous year’s meeting and enlisting their support for the Organization’s priorities. Celebrated French musician Jean Michel Jarre and HRH Princess Firyal of Jordan, both long-standing Goodwill Ambassadors for the Organization, were the moderators of the Annual Meeting.
The agenda highlighted three main areas: first, UNESCO’s initiatives in the field of Education for All, in particular the Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE), the Teacher Training Initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa (TTISSA), and EDUCAIDS, the UNESCO-led Global Initiative on Education and HIV and AIDS; second, UNESCO’s initiatives for the promotion of Books and Libraries; and, third, UNESCO’s work regarding post-crisis and post-disaster situations.
During the opening session, the Director-General thanked the Goodwill Ambassadors for their continuing support and highlighted the Organization’s priorities for the coming biennium: “I am convinced that the principal priorities we have chosen are the right ones for the Organization at this time.” He called upon the Goodwill Ambassadors “to continue helping us to fulfil the Organization’s important missions, especially in regard to the five principal programme priorities.” He also asked them to help increase UNESCO’s visi-bility worldwide: “Your participation in UNESCO’s programmes certainly helps to achieve this visibility. A kind of virtuous circle comes into play when this happens – the more support you give to our work, the more visible it becomes; and, as it becomes more visible, our work becomes stronger and attracts further support.”
Evoking the 60th anniversary of the Organization, the Director-General encouraged the Goodwill Ambassadors to take an active role in the anniversary celebrations by raising awareness of UNESCO’s history and actions and by attending or organizing major events.
Following the Director-General’s opening speech, the Goodwill Ambassadors presented their respective activities and expressed their enthusiasm and readiness to continue to actively assist the Organization.
A dinner in UNESCO’s restaurant, hosted by the Director-General and HE Sheikh Ghassan I. Shaker in honour of the Goodwill Ambassadors, was also the occasion to celebrate the Organization’s 60th anniversary together with many other distinguished guests.
A multicultural event with 40 artists from 8 South Asian countries, sponsored by Goodwill Ambassador Mr Madanjet Singh, concluded the
meeting. The show presented traditional music and dance performances from the oral and intangible heritage of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and included ancient music instruments.
The following UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors attended the Annual Meeting: Mr Ara Abramian; Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva; Mr Patrick Baudry; Mr Pierre Bergé; Ms Claudia Cardinale; Mr Cheick Modibo Diarra; Mr Miguel Angel Estrella; H.R.H. Princess Firyal; Mr Ivry Gitlis; H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover; Mrs Bahia Hariri; Mr Ikuo Hirayama; Mr Jean Michel Jarre; Mr Ömer Zülfü Livaneli; H.R.H. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg; H.R.H. Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco; Mr Kitín Muńoz; Lady Owen-Jones; Mrs Kim Phuc Phan Thi; Mrs Susana Rinaldi; H.E. Mr Sheikh Ghassan I. Shaker; Mr Madanjeet Singh; Mr Zurab Tsereteli; Mrs Marianna Vardinoyannis and Mrs Milu Villela.
Photo: UNESCO Director-General Mr Koďchiro Matsuura, surrounded by the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors at the Annual Meeting, 15-16 March 2006 at UNESCO Headquarters. From left to right: Mrs Marianna Vardinoyannis, Mr Ikuo Hirayama, Mrs Milu Villela, Mr Ömer Zülfü Livaneli, Mrs Basma Irsheid, Chief of Programme of UNESCO Celebrity Advocates, Lady Owen-Jones, Mr Ara Abramian, Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, Mr Kitín Muńoz, HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Mr Wole Soyinka, Mr Koďchiro Matsuura, Mrs Claudia Cardinale, Mrs Kim Phuc Phan Thi, HRH the Princess of Hanover, Mr Miguel Angel Estrella, Mr Patrick Baudry, HE Sheikh Ghassan I. Shaker, Mr Zurab Tsereteli, HRH Princess Firyal, Mrs Susana Rinaldi, Mr Jean Michel Jarre, Mr Ivry Gitlis, Mr Madanjeet Singh, Mr Pierre Bergé. Goodwill Ambassadors who attended but were not in the photo include: HRH Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco, Mr Cheick Modibo Diarra and Mrs Bahia Hariri.
Photo gallery of the 2006 Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
|
|
|
|
|
