Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands designated UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development
12-05-2009 10:15 am On the 27 March 2009 UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura designated H.R.H. Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands as UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development in recognition of her “outstanding commitment to the promotion of education and her profound dedication to the Organization’s ideals and objectives”. “H.R.H. Princess Laurentien has a long record of fighting against illiteracy in the Netherlands, where it is now recognized as a problem that has been neglected,” Mr Matsuura said. “As UNESCO Special Envoy, she will act as a spokesperson for the Organization and advocate for the cause of literacy as one of the building blocks for economic growth and development, and essential for the health and well-being of people everywhere.”
H.R.H. Princess Laurentien also emphasised the importance of working with developed nations to address the “uncomfortable truth” that a high proportion of adults in those countries do not have the skills required to meet the demands of daily life and work. In May she will travel to Brazil to participate in Confintea VI, a global conference organized by
UNESCO on adult education.
“H.R.H. Princess Laurentien has a long record of fighting against illiteracy in the Netherlands, where it is now recognized as a problem that has been neglected,” Mr Matsuura said. “As UNESCO Special Envoy, she will act as a spokesperson for the Organization and advocate for the cause of literacy as one of the building blocks for economic growth and development, and essential for the health and well-being of people everywhere.”