Her Excellency Ms Vigdís Finnbogadóttir attends thematic debate on the protection of indigenous and endangered languages.
23-12-2008 4:30 am The former President of Iceland and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Languages, Her Excellency Ms Vigdís Finnbogadóttir attended on the 7th October 2008 a debate entitled ‘Protecting Indigenous and Endangered Languages, and the Role of Languages in Promoting Education for All in the Context of Sustainable Development’, held at UNESCO Headquarters on the margins of the 180th session of the Executive Board. The debate commenced with the opening speech by the Chairman of the Executive Board, His Excellency Ambassador Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï Permanent Delegate of Bénin to UNESCO. Its aim was to examine various subjects related to language and culture, as for example, the linguistic dimension of sustainable development, efficient multilingual education, and the respective costs and advantages of monolingualism versus multilingualism. The debate drew to a close with the speeches of the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, and the Chairman of the Executive Board.
Her Excellency Ms Vigdís Finnbogadóttir also took part, as a member of the jury, in awarding the former President of Finland Martti Ahtisaarim with the UNESCO Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize on the 2nd of October. The Prize is intended to honour those who have made a significant contribution to promoting, seeking, safeguarding or maintaining peace.
H.E. Ms Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was awarded the Ladies First International Prize in a ceremony on the 19th of November in Paris. The members of the Ladies First International Club are chosen for their human qualities, their tolerance, their recognised professional competence and their humanitarianism. The Prize which is being presented for the first time this year, is intended to ‘honour the exceptional achievements of one woman, who is a symbol of hope and an example of youth.’
The debate commenced with the opening speech by the Chairman of the Executive Board, His Excellency Ambassador Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï Permanent Delegate of Bénin to UNESCO. Its aim was to examine various subjects related to language and culture, as for example, the linguistic dimension of sustainable development, efficient multilingual education, and the respective costs and advantages of monolingualism versus multilingualism. The debate drew to a close with the speeches of the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, and the Chairman of the Executive Board.