Paris, May 23 2016
Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa was designated by the Group of African Ambassadors accredited to UNESCO as patron of the UNESCO Africa Week held in Paris from May 23 to 27, 2016. She succeeds eminent African individuals such as Nelson Mandela, Wagari Maathai, and Boutros Boutros-Ghali who were also designated patrons of the event, respectively in 2011, 2012 and 2014. The appointment of HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa recognizes her commitment to environmental protection at the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, which she has chaired since its creation by His Majesty the King in June 2001.
From May 23 – 27, 2016, the UNESCO headquarters in Paris is hosting the UNESCO Africa Week organized on the theme “African women face the climate challenge.” Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, named patron of the 2016 edition, will launch the event. She succeeds eminent African Nobel award winners.
The designation of Princess Lalla Hasnaa as patron of UNESCO’s Africa Week honors Her Royal Highness‘ involvement and constant mobilization for environmental protection, and also as a symbol of African women’s active participation in climate change mitigation. The appointment also recognizes the various federating measures undertaken by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection in improving air quality and coastal protection through programs that have become standards, such as the Qualit’Air program the Lalla Hasnaa Sustainable Coast Awards, as well as in raising awareness and environmental education through programs such as Eco-schools and Young Reporters for the Environment, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, which contribute to raising environmental awareness among young people. The Foundation widely shares its expertise and experience internationally, as evidenced by the partnerships signed with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNESCO and ISESCO, etc.
Each year, the African week results in a series of celebrations honoring the tangible and intangible heritage of the African continent. The event also organizes exhibitions, round tables, and discussion conferences highlighting Africa’s artistic, intellectual and cultural richness and diversity.
Among these conferences and debates, Ms. Hakima El Haite, Delegate Minister for the Environment, will host a meeting entitled “COP 22: what challenges for Africa and African women?” on Monday May 23, 2016
About the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection:
Since its creation in June 2001 by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who entrusted the chair to Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection places education and awareness issues at the heart of the mission entrusted to it. It is thus aligned with goals established by the RIO summits (1992 and 2012) and Johannesburg (2002) in terms of education for sustainable development and to which Morocco has subscribed. Several pilot programs and projects within this framework have been successfully conducted by the Foundation. These programs cover areas as diverse as environmental education, protection of the coastline, improving air quality, voluntary carbon offsetting, responsible tourism, and the protection and development of historic gardens and the Marrakech Palm Grove.
Various projects are developed according to international standards adopted by the Foundation after it joined the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in 2002. FEE is a non-profit NGO grouping 74 countries around the world. Morocco is the only Arab Muslim member country.
UNESCO and the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection are bound by a partnership agreement for Education for Sustainable Development in Morocco signed in the presence of HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa and Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
