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Pharrell Williams, an Academy Award-nominated musician and filmmaker, philanthropist, and Men's Creative Director of Louis Vuitton, is a 13-time GRAMMY award winner and a multi-faceted creator. With billions of streams since his debut in 2006, his songs such as ¡®Happy¡¯ and ¡®Get Lucky¡¯ and his collaborations with some of the world's greatest artists resonate on every continent.

In 2008, convinced of the essential role played by schools and music in empowering younger generations, Pharrell Williams launched a series of initiatives such as ¡®From One Hand to AnOTHER¡¯, ¡®Yellow¡¯ and ¡®Black Ambition¡¯, supporting entrepreneurship, education and cultural initiatives among marginalized communities.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Arts Education and Entrepreneurship, Pharrell Williams will extend his actions at the international level and support UNESCO¡¯s activities in arts education and creativity.

On 17 December 2024, he spoke to 800 secondary school pupils and fashion, music and film students at UNESCO Headquarters during a special screening of Piece by Piece. This animated biopic, set in a LEGO universe, follows his journey from the suburbs of Virginia Beach to the global art scene, celebrating innovation, resilience and ambition.

South Korean K-pop group SEVENTEEN, founded in 2015, travels the world with its thirteen members, attracting millions of spectators and exerting a major influence on young people through their musical productions and choreography.

Since SEVENTEEN was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Youth in June 2024, these international events are used by the group as a platform to raise awareness of UNESCO's mission.

Thanks to SEVENTEEN¡¯s engagement with UNESCO and the groupe¡¯s financial contribution, UNESCO and SEVENTEEN have launched an ambitious joint programme, the ¡®Going Together¡¯ Global Youth Grant Scheme that funds youth-led projects around the world to address challenges affecting the well-being and development of young people and their communities, including by supporting creativity.

Prior to its designation, the group took part in the 13th UNESCO 91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ in November 2023, putting on its first-ever live performance in France - with over 40 million views online.

A world-renowned actor, Forest Whitaker promotes peace and reconciliation between and within communities, using educational tools in areas affected by conflict and violence.

President of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI), he is a campaigner for the Youth Peace-maker Network (YPN), promoting peace-building and conflict resolution in crisis-affected countries. WPDI works jointly with UNESCO in Southern Sudan, Uganda and Mexico. WPDI has also launched the Conflict Resolution Education (CRE) program in the USA, which contributes to the development of youth leadership and cohesion in schools.

In his capacity as UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, the film he produced, ¡®For the Sake of Peace¡¯, was screened in his presence in May 2023 for the UNESCO Campus XL dedicated to the theme of ¡®Building Peace¡¯. He also took part in UNESCO's global #SharingHumanity campaign in 2023, alongside other Goodwill Ambassadors, and in the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 2023.

He was present at the United States of America flag-raising ceremony that took place at UNESCO Headquarters on 25 July 2023, in the presence of Ms Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States of America.

Actress, model, singer and visual artist, Rossy de Palma made a name for herself with her roles in the films of Pedro Almod¨®var.

Since her early days, Rossy de Palma has been known for her outspokenness, her refusal to accept fatalism and for taking a stand. She denounces the tyranny of the gaze of others, to which she has been subjected since childhood, and which often stigmatises difference.

In May 2022, she presided over the Cam¨¦ra d'Or jury at the Cannes Film Festival.

Actress, model, singer and visual artist, Rossy de Palma made a name for herself with her roles in the films of Pedro Almod¨®var.

Since her early days, Rossy de Palma has been known for her outspokenness, her refusal to accept fatalism and for taking a stand. She denounces the tyranny of the gaze of others, to which she has been subjected since childhood, and which often stigmatises difference.


Actress, model, singer and visual artist, Rossy de Palma made a name for herself with her roles in the films of Pedro Almod¨®var.

Since her early days, Rossy de Palma has been known for her outspokenness, her refusal to accept fatalism and for taking a stand. She denounces the tyranny of the gaze of others, to which she has been subjected since childhood, and which often stigmatises difference.

In May 2022, she presided over the Cam¨¦ra d'Or jury at the Cannes Film Festival.

In her capacity as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for cultural diversity , Rossy De Palma, actively engaged in an online campaign commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.

The Bon March¨¦ Rive Gauche honoured Rossy de Palma with an exhibition and a show titled 'La Vie en Rossy', supported by micro-donations to UNESCO's cultural diversity and creativity programme, in September 2023.

A Brazilian professional footballer, Vinicius Junior, founded the Instituto Vin¨ª.Jr, in 2021, with the aim of reducing the inequalities between private and public education in Brazil. Instead of adhering to a conventional football-centric approach, Vinicius Junior has embraced innovation by developing BASE an application designed to equip teachers with tools to make learning enjoyable and stimulating for young people.

In June 2023, Vinicius Junior was appointed to lead a special FIFA anti-racism committee, charged with proposing stricter sanctions for discriminatory behavior in football.

His dedication has been acknowledged with the Socrates 2023 Award, which honors footballers who are actively involved in educational or social causes.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education for All, he undertook his inaugural mission by visiting the Lyc¨¦e Coll¨¦gial al-Charaf in Marrakech on 19 February 2024 to convey the importance of education amongst youth.

The unique beauty of Xueli Abbing led her to the modeling industry, where she found a platform to celebrate differences and raise awareness about albinism.

To sustain her efforts, Xueli Abbing set up in 2022 the Open Eyes Foundation, dedicated to combating discrimination and racism.

Xueli Abbing, who is Dutch of Chinese descent, shares UNESCO's belief that diversity enriches us all and that every individual should have the opportunity to realize their full potential.

In her capacity as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the fight against discrimination and racism, she took part in the fight against racial prejudice and in favor of human rights and dignity, on the occasion of the second edition of the UNESCO Master Class against racism and discrimination, at UNESCO headquarters in March 2023, and attended the Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination in Mexico City (Mexico) in November 2022 and in Sao Paolo (Brazil) in November 2023. Xueli Abbing also participated in the UNESCO global campaign #SharingHumanity alongside other Goodwill Ambassadors.

From his native Argentina to his C?te d'Azur terroirs, chef Mauro Colagreco is committed to developing a circular gastronomy that respects the cycle of nature. Settled in Menton since 2006, he built the Mirazur restaurant, crowned with the prestigious 3 Michelin stars, then voted n¡ã1 on the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world, and obtained "Plastic Free" certification.

Mauro Colagreco is committed to supporting the Man and the Biosphere, a UNESCO programme that support biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.

On November 9, 2023, during his participation in the session on biodiversity in the wake of the UNESCO General Conference's High-Level Events, chef Mauro Colagreco used this platform to plead for the protection of the Amazon as a biodiversity haven.

Salif Traor¨¦, a.k.a. A'Salfo, is the leader of the group Magic System and an emblematic figure of Ivorian national culture.

He created the Magic System Foundation, which he chairs and which works for the well-being of the population through social actions in the fields of education, health, the environment and culture. He has also initiated numerous social actions in C?te d'Ivoire, Africa and around the world. He composed the songs ¡®L'eau va manquer¡¯ and ¡®Savoir¡¯ to raise public awareness of today's social and environmental issues. His influence with African and global youth was amplified by the great success of the song ¡®Akwaba¡¯, official anthem of the CAN 2024, performed by Magic System.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2012, he helps promote literacy and raise awareness of the Organization's actions and programs for Education, particularly in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The melody of the song 'Magic in the Air' has been graciously lent by Magic System to UNESCO to be used as the anthem of the ODD5 to accompany UNESCO at the African Union Summit in February 2024 at Addis Ababa and reinforce its advocacy in favor of access to quality education for all.

Yalitza Aparicio is a Mexican actress of Mixtec descent who was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar, for her role in Alfonso Cuar¨®n's 2018 film Roma.

She uses social networks to fight discrimination against indigenous peoples and recognize their cultural rights.

In her capacity as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples, Yalitza Aparicio works to raise awareness of the cause of indigenous people who are victims of discrimination. In November 2022, she took part in the International Forum against discrimination and racism organized by UNESCO in Mexico. As a panelist at the 30th World Press Freedom Day, organized by UNESCO at the United Nations General Assembly in May 2023, she campaigned for independent, free, and pluralistic media to improve the well-being of indigenous communities. On the occasion of the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on 9 August 2023, she read a children¡¯s novel in the Araucanian language Mapuche raising awareness about the importance of preserving the diversity and richness of indigenous languages.

Tan Dun is a world-famous Chinese composer and conductor.
He began his career with the Beijing Opera and his music is now performed all over the world by the most renowned ensembles. Winner of the Grawemeyer Prize, the most prestigious of composition prizes, he also won the Oscar for cinema and the Grammy Award for his composition for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

He is also famous for having conducted major works of the twentieth century and worked with artists from other disciplines, choreographers and directors.
In addition to his classical compositions, Tan Dun is known for his experimental projects: music for ceramics, water, paper and stone. His music is often part of a vast scenic and multimedia installation.

In his capacity as a Goodwill Ambassador, Tan Dun has been a vocal advocate for the transformative power of music as a universal language that transcends borders and connects people from diverse backgrounds.

In 2013, he conducted at UNESCO Headquarters a special concert entitled Music for Water dedicated to water, which celebrated World Water Day, during the International Year of Water Cooperation.

Maestro Tan Dun promoted the diversity of languages through his participation to UNESCO¡¯s Silk Roads initiative. In the framework of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022), from 2016 to 2017, he organized several concerts from all along the Silk Road countries to represent their musical traditions and introduce their instruments to the public.

Chief international correspondent for CNN, Christiane Amanpour has interviewed most of the top world leaders over the past three decades and has received every major broadcast award, including an inaugural Television Academy Award, ten News and Documentary Emmys, four George Foster Peabody Awards, and nine honorary degrees.

As a board member of the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Center for Public Integrity, and the Women's International Media Foundation, she has used her profile to raise awareness of key global issues.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, she has contributed to the success of major initiatives such as the celebration of World Press Freedom Day and the conference on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
In 2023, she contributed to the UNESCO Master Class series highlighting disabled people in the media.

The Norwegian film director Deeyah Khan, born to parents of Pashtun and Pakistani origin, has won an Emmy and a Peabody for her documentary films. She is the founder of Fuuse, an independent media and arts company that puts women, minorities and immigrants at the heart of telling their own stories. She also founded Sister-hood, a digital magazine that highlights the diverse voices of women from Muslim backgrounds.

Her commitment to UNESCO, since 2016, as Goodwill Ambassador for Artistic Freedom and Creativity, is guided by her desire to contribute to building fairer and freer societies through her activities as a filmmaker.

On 25 January 2023 on the occasion of the International Day of Women in Multilateralism, she participated in relation to online gendered disinformation. She gave a testimony of her own experience of gender-based violent harassment and proposed some solutions for the criminal regulation of social network contents.

Ms Khan is engaged with artists facing emergency situations by participating. As such, she took part in the round table on the theme "Defending Creative Voices: Protection of Artists in Times of Emergency", organized jointly by UNESCO and PEN America's Artist at Risk Connection (ARC), on 9 April 2024 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

As UNESCO Honorary Ambassador for Literacy, the American Laura Bush lends her name and fame to UNESCO's activities in the field of education, contributing to the success of numerous literacy events and conferences in the United States and around the world.

In 2002, Laura Bush created the national initiative "Ready to Read, Ready to Learn" to inform parents and policy makers about early childhood education. She also helped to develop a series of magazines called "Healthy Start, Grow Smart" to provide parents with information about children¡¯s cognitive development and health.

Beyond her impactful initiatives within the United States, Mrs. Bush's mission as an Honorary Ambassador emphasized the significance of literacy during the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012). This role underscored her commitment to promoting literacy as a fundamental tool for empowerment and education worldwide.

President of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003, and again from 2004 to 2009, H.E. Valdas Adamkus has worked to modernize his country. As a dedicated environmentalist and promoter of information technologies, he has given UNESCO the benefit of his vast experience in building knowledge societies.

Oskar Metsavaht, artist, sustainable fashion designer and founder in 1989 of the iconic Brazilian brand Osklen, promotes a contemporary lifestyle in harmony with the environment. In 2011, he created Instituto-E, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing socio-environmental initiatives and supporting partner organisations to identify materials and fabrics developed with socio-environmental considerations in mind. These materials include fish leather, Amazon jute and silk straw fibres.

His work as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2011 has focused on biodiversity, the ocean and climate change.

He took part in the United Nations Conference on the Oceans in Lisbon in 2022, co-organised by the governments of Kenya and Portugal, on the theme of "Intensifying ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: assessment, partnerships and solutions".

As part of the 42nd General Conference, Oskar Metsavaht took part in the high-level segment of the Partners Forum on Biodiversity at UNESCO Headquarters on 9 November 2023, in the presence of the Director-General.

Also as part of the 42nd General Conference, he contributed to the exhibition the "Photographers shine a light on biodiversity", which was held in November and December 2023 on the UNESCO fences.

Grand master of the Japanese Urasenke tea school and a century old, Dr Genshitsu Sen is widely known as a global advocate of the culture of peace.

He organizes tea ceremonies and continues to give lectures around the world with the aim of fostering mutual understanding and promoting peace.

Dr Genshitsu Sen has devoted his life to the traditional Japanese art of the tea ceremony, a philosophical and spiritual event inspired by Confucianism and Zen Buddhism that offers a moment of meditation over tea.

In his capacity as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2012, he has conducted numerous tea ceremonies on various United Nations commemorations, including at UNESCO headquarters.

In 2023, he took part in the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the ASPnet UNESCO Associated Schools Network, in Kyoto, Japan, where he advocated on the link between the arts, culture and peace.

Claudia Cardinale, a legendary actress and an icon of Italian neorealism cinematography, has put her fame at the service of one of UNESCO's global priorities: the defense of women's rights, since appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2000.

Established in 2023the Fondazione Claudia Cardinale was established, for mission to improve the status of women and protect the environment through the development of cultural projects.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand is an eminent linguist and scholar in Pali, Sanskrit and Cambodian. She also plays traditional Thai musical instruments and Head of the History Department at the Royal Military Academy in Chulachomklao.

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn supports UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Empowerment of Minority Children through Education and through the Preservation of their Intangible Cultural Heritage. She has worked on numerous development projects in health and hygiene, education, water resource development, agriculture and cottage industries.
In May 2023, Princess Maha Chakri took part in the opening of the 'Reminiscence' exhibition at UNESCO headquarters celebrating the centenary of the birth of her humanist aunt Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra (1923-2008) of the Kingdom of Thailand.

A prolific author of essays and novels, Metin Arditi is a Swiss writer of Turkish origin, whose books deal with filiation, exile and dialogue between cultures, themes inspired by his unique life experience at the crossroads of several continents.

Among his most recent publications, L'homme qui peignait les ?mes (Editions Grasset, 2021) was awarded the Prix de l'Universit¨¦ Catholique de l'Ouest 2022 in Angers; and Tu seras mon p¨¨re (Editions Grasset, 2022) received the Prix Machiavel 2022 from the French Senate.

In his capacity as Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, Metin Arditi contributes to promoting dialogue between communities, especially between Israelis and Palestinians, through the actions of his foundations active in the Middle East: Fondation Les instruments de la Paix that provides musical education for young Israelis and Palestinians; Fondation Arditi pour le dialogue interculturel, which awards literary prizes to students, in collaboration with Israeli, Turkish and Armenian universities, to spread a message of peace and reconciliation between peoples.

A passionate advocate of heritage protection, HRH Princess Dana Firas of Jordan advocates for cultural heritage as a pillar of sustainable development and responsible tourism.

As President of the Petra National Trust (PNT), she is committed to the protection of Petra, an ancient Nabataean city in southern Jordan that has been a World Heritage Site since 1985. She is heavily involved in training a new generation of leaders and cultural activists. She also raises public awareness of heritage values, notably through her publications. In 2022, she published "Unique and Outstanding: Jordan's World Heritage Sites" with photographer Bashar Tabbaa, prefaced by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

In 2023, she took part in UNESCO's global #SharingHumanity campaign, arguing that our culture and living heritage are open book of our collective diversity.

Founder and President of International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS)-Jordan, at the 2023 ICOMOS General Assembly, HRH Princess Dana Firas was elected Vice-President for 2023-2026, thus reinforcing her global commitment to cultural heritage protection and promotion.

The first woman to be democratically elected as head of state, Her Excellency Vigd¨ªs Finnbogad¨®ttir, former President of Iceland, is a staunch defender of multilingual education and linguistic diversity.

She was named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Languages in 1998, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the promotion of linguistic diversity and multilingual education.

In April 2017, she inaugurated the Vigd¨ªs International Centre of Multilingualism and Intercultural Understanding in Reykjavik, a category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO.

The international Vidg¨ªs Prize, created by the Icelandic Government, is awarded annually to an individual who has done groundbreaking work in the field of culture and languages.

A member of the Jordanian royal family and an international patron of the arts, H.R.H. Princess Firyal is a relentless advocate of humanitarian causes.

At various international conferences, she promotes in her capacity as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, the preservation of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

She advocates for the protection UNESCO World Heritage sites worldwide and maintains a particular interest in the Veneto region of Italy where she is engaged with the Venetian Heritage Foundation as a board member. Notably, dedicated efforts have resulted in significant improvements in water cleanliness in the Venetian Lagoon, leading to the resurgence of marine life.

Nizan Guanaes, a prominent Brazilian figure in communications and advertising, is using his influence to support UNESCO's mission of promoting social inclusion, education, and empowerment for vulnerable groups.

Nizan Guanaes played a pivotal role in fostering international cooperation and cultural preservation through several notable initiatives.

In 2019, he was instrumental in the signing of a significant cooperation agreement between UNESCO and Globo TV for the Crian?a Esperan?a project, extending their collaboration for an additional six years.

In 2019, he supported the reconstruction and restoration of World Heritage sites damaged by confilcts in the Middle East, though the History Blocks project.

Nizan Guanaes' engagement with UNESCO exemplifies the transformative potential of communication professionals in fostering global understanding and promoting cultural diversity, for a more interconnected and harmonious global community.

The iconic jazz pianist Herbie Hancock is a 14-time Grammy Award winner, former member of the famous Miles Davis Quintet and a pioneer of a jazz sound that combined electric jazz with funk and rock in an innovative style that continues to influence contemporary music to this day.

As Chairman of the Board of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, he promotes music education and jazz by bringing young students together with renowned jazz artists.

Shortly after being appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2011, Herbie Hancock initiated International Jazz Day, a yearly musical event that aims to promote peace, international cooperation and mutual understanding and is celebrated every year on 30 April in over 190 countries.

For the first time on the African continent, the city of Tangiers (Morocco) hosted the 13th edition of International Jazz Day in 2024.

A leading figure in Lebanon's cultural and educational landscape, Bahia Hariri was Lebanon's Minister of Education and Higher Education from 2008 to 2009, then a Member of Parliament and Chair of the Education Committee until May 2022.

She chairs the Hariri Foundation, which was set up in 1979 and focuses primarily on improving education in Lebanon, and has now been renamed the "Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Development".

Ms Hariri has taken part in numerous cultural and educational activities aimed at improving the living conditions of Arab women and promoting their role in community life in Arab countries.

In 2012, she signed a cooperation agreement with UNESCO for the joint organisation of culture-related events and activities in the Arab world.

Committed to the preservation of cultural heritage, she campaigned for the inclusion of Saida's Echmoun temple on the World Heritage List. Through the Hariri Foundation, she has also financed the restoration of the Great Mosque and the Khan el-Franj (Caravanserai), which form part of Saida's historic centre.

Considered one of the world's greatest marathon runners, he is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and winner of 16 marathons.

He is the recipient of numerous awards: he was named Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart by President Uhuru Kenyatta on October 20, 2019, in recognition of his marathon of less than two hours. He was also named World Sport Star of the Year in 2019 by BBC World Sport. In 2023, he was awarded the Princess of Asturias Award in the "Sports" category.

He established The Eliud Kipchoge Foundation in 2021, to support education programmes and the environment in Kenya.

Since March 2023, he was designated as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Sport Integrity and Values, to put his experience and talent to amplify the Organization's actions and impact around the world.

Founder and President of FIMALAC, Marc Ladreit de Lacharri¨¨re is also a show producer, patron and collector. In 2006 he created the Fondation Culture & Diversit¨¦ with the mission of promoting access to the arts and culture for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.


In 2023, the Fondation Marc Ladreit de Lacharri¨¨re provided financial support for UNESCO's emergency measures to safeguard the Odessa Archaeological Museum (inventory, digitization, storage, training).

As President of the Association for the Decorated Cave of Pont d¡¯Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d¡¯Arc set up in 2011 by the Conseil r¨¦gional Auvergne-Rh?ne-Alpes, the Conseil d¨¦partemental de l'Ard¨¨che and himself, he is engaged in efforts to raise national and international awareness of the decorated cave, which contains over 450 animal paintings created more than 36,000 years ago and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.

Sir Nasser D. Khalili is a world-renowned scholar, collector and philanthropist who has assembled some of the finest art collections in the world, including art from the Islamic world, Japanese art from the Meiji period, and a collection of Hajj and pilgrimage art.

Sir Khalili made notable contributions to the scholarship of Islamic art, including the founding of the Nasser D. Khalili Chair of Islamic Art at the University of London¡¯s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He also endowed the Khalili Research Centre for the Arts and Material Culture of the Middle East at the University of Oxford.

As Co-founder and Chair of the Maimonides Foundation, he champions the promotion of peace and intercultural dialogue between Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

In May 2023, the Khalili Foundation organized an event called "One Diverse World" at UNESCO House to celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The event featured live performances from global artists and the premiere of the UNESCO-Khalili film titled "A Thousand Colours: A Celebration of Cultural Diversity." The film explores the importance of cultural diversity, addresses current challenges, and highlights the work of UNESCO's International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) and the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
In 2024, the Khalili Foundation and UNESCO partnered in support of the Memory of the World Programme to share its content on Wikimedia.

Emblematic figures in the Holocaust remembrance movement, Serge and Beate Klarsfeld have devoted their lives to fighting anti-Semitism, notably through the Association of Sons and Daughters of Jews Deported from France.
They were appointed UNESCO Honorary Ambassadors and Special Envoys for Holocaust Education and Genocide Prevention in 2015, in recognition of their unwavering commitment to justice and truth, and their fight for the dignity of the Jewish victims of Nazism.
They support UNESCO¡¯s efforts to combat anti-Semitism, racism and all other forms of intolerance, in particular through their active participation in the commemoration of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, which is held each year at UNESCO Headquarters on 27 January.

First Lady of the People's Republic of China, Ms Peng Liyuan is also a famous opera singer and music teacher. She holds a number of official positions: she is vice-president of the Chinese Federation of Literary and Artistic Circles, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Musicians, and professor and thesis director at the China Conservatory.

Ms Peng Liyuan contributes to promoting gender equality and enhancing the access of women and girls to inclusive, equitable and quality education.

She delivered messages at the Ceremonies of the UNESCO Prize for Girls¡¯ and Women¡¯s Education in Beijing (2016 and 2023) and at UNESCO Headquarters (2017-2019) and online due to the COVID-19 pandemic (2021). The Prize honours outstanding and innovative contributions made by individuals, institutions and organizations to advance girls¡¯ and women¡¯s education. Funded by the Government of the People¡¯s Republic of China, the Prize is conferred annually to two laureates and consists of an award to help further their work in support of girls¡¯ and women¡¯s education.

A member of the Moroccan royal family, Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem is committed to improving the living conditions of young girls and women in Arab society, particularly in Morocco.

She holds many prestigious official positions. As President of the National Union of Moroccan Women, she organized the International Women's Day ceremony in Rabat in March 2020, which highlighted the importance of education and vocational training for girls and women.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2001, she promotes the rights of women internationally, a global priority of UNESCO.

Former Director General of the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since2008, Vitaly Ignatenko supports the Organization¡¯s efforts to promote Russian culture around the world. In 2003, he received a prize from the Government of the Russian Federation for his efforts to spread the Russian language.
Over the past two years he has led seminars on cultural and environmental issues for journalists from over 90 countries and played a key role in advocating for the inclusion of Sochi¡¯s ancient dolmens on the UNESCO World Heritage list
He also contributed to the "Iron Age" and "Diversity United" exhibitions.

Princess Laurentien has championed the cause of literacy worldwide and supported UNESCO's efforts to intensify literacy efforts.

Convinced that literacy is a human right, Princess Laurentien has been recognized for her outstanding work in defending this right since 2003. ?She created the Foundation for Reading and Writing (Stichting Lezen & Schrijven) in 2004 and has become patron of various organizations such as the Dutch Braille and Talking Library and the Association of Public Libraries. She also holds the ABC Literacy Award.

Prominent advocate for the most vulnerable members of society, UNESCO partnered with Princess Laurentien to facilitate the innovative dialogue which led to the conceptualization and eventual formation of the Global Partnership Strategy for Early Childhood (2021-2030).

In addition, she is currently President of the European Cultural Foundation, an independent pan European institution that develops cultural programs and funds grants for European projects related to culture and education.

Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg is President of the Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa Foundation, whose mission is to provide assistance to people with disabilities and to contribute financially to development projects and humanitarian aid.

Since her appointment as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1997, she has been involved in education, equality and the protection of women against violence, as well as access to credit for the most marginalized.

In September 2021, she was awarded the title of Global Champion for the Fight Against Sexual Violence in Conflict by the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, for her work on behalf of survivors of sexual violence in fragile areas and children born of wartime rape.

In 2022, she took part in the high-level panel at UNESCO headquarters on the third International Day for the Protection of Education under Attack.

In 2023, she contributed to the UNESCO Master Class series highlighting disabled people in the media.

Denis Matsuev, one of the world's most renowned pianists, is also Chairman of his New Names Foundation, which supports young talents in several artistic fields: classical and folk music, fine arts and poetry.

He was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2014, in recognition of his commitment to promoting music education and his efforts to support young talent through his Foundation.
In 2023, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sergey Rachmaninoff, (1873-1943), Denis Matsuev took a leading role in organizing numerous commemorative events . He currently serves as the artistic director of the newly established Rachmaninoff International Competition for pianists, composers, and conductors.

Italian writer and poet Maria Francesca Merloni has written plays that have been performed in Italy's leading theatres.

In the Marche region of Italy, she was artistic director of Poiesis, an arts festival that brings together music, poetry, film and philosophy. Thanks to Maria Francesca Merloni's initiative, the city of Fabriano was designated a UNESCO Creative City in 2013, a town that is internationally recognized for its crafts, rich in ancient tradition.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2017, Maria Francesca Merloni has been working to promote the UNESCO Creative Cities network, a platform designed to encourage cooperation with and within cities that place creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development.

Vera Michalski-Hoffmann, an eminent Swiss patron of the arts, is committed to publishing, literary creation and the practice of reading.

With her Jan Michalski Foundation, she organizes annual writing residencies to support and encourage writers in their projects. The Foundation also awards an annual intercultural prize for all varieties of books in all languages.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2016, Vera Michalski-Hoffmann supports the Organization¡¯s actions to promote books and reading. Every year, she participates alongside UNESCO in the celebration of World Book and Copyright Day, as well as in the World Book Capital programme.

The Spanish navigator and explorer Kit¨ªn Mu?oz is an ardent defender of the cause of the world's indigenous peoples. He uses his expeditions aboard primitive boats to spread his message in favour of cultural plurality and respect for indigenous cultures.

Since 1997, he has been working with UNESCO as a Goodwill Ambassador to promote indigenous cultures and preserve the masterpieces of humanity's oral and intangible heritage.

On his initiative, the Nomads¡¯ Moussem Festival in Tan-Tan, Morocco, which brings together some thirty nomadic tribes from the Sahara every year to sing, celebrate and tell poetic tales, was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.

On 12 February 2022, this time committed to the oceans, Kit¨ªn Mu?oz had the flag of the Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) hoisted on the mast of the Spanish Navy training ship "Juan Sebasti¨¢n de Elcano" for its round-the-world oceanographic research expedition.

Internationally acclaimed Brazilian contemporary artist Vik Muniz creates photographic works using everyday materials and images inspired by current events, art history and famous people. His works, which can be seen in the world's leading museums, often raise humorous questions about art and the world.

He was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in May 2011 to contribute to social inclusion and sustainability through art.

In November 2021, for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme, on the occasion of the 41st session of the General Conference, at UNESCO Headquarters, he himself unveiled his work entitled Wild Flowers, Summer 1915 after Tom Thomson, created from photographs of objects from the Biosphere Reserve Network.

An eminent Russian poet and philosopher, Alexandra Ochirova is actively involved in social, educational and cultural issues.

She founded the International Women's Centre ¡®Women's Future¡¯ in 1990, and is still its President. The centre, one of Russia's most influential NGOs, stands out for its innovative programmes to help vulnerable social groups, particularly women and children.

A member of several associations, Alexandra Ochirova organises and takes part in numerous international events.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2012, she supports the Organization in key areas such as gender equality and cultural rapprochement.

In her role as co-chair of the General Council of the Assembly of Eurasian Peoples, she played a crucial role in bridging Russian and Uzbek cultures during a roundtable in Samarkand in 2022. Additionally, she contributed to the development of an online programme on linguistic diversity.

Ute-Henriette Ohoven has a long-standing commitment to humanitarian action, working to bring about sustainable improvements in living conditions, education and empowerment for the most disadvantaged sections of the population.

Her YOU Foundation - Education for Children in Need supports the United Nations 2030 Agenda on education, which focuses on access for all people at all times to inclusive, equitable and quality education. The aim of his foundation is to improve living standards in the poorest regions of Africa, Asia and South America.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1994, she has worked alongside UNESCO to promote access to education and lifelong learning.

At her initiative, the ¡®Sacred Planet for #Art4GlobalGoals¡¯ exhibition was held in 2023 at UNESCO headquarters, showcasing 17 sculptures in the colours of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim of this initiative was to raise awareness of the imperative need to preserve and protect our planet.

Kim Phuc Phan Thi is known around the world as ¡®the girl in the photo¡¯ fleeing a napalm attack. In 1972, at the age of 9, she was immortalized in a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph that made her a living symbol of the atrocities of war.

Through the Kim Foundation and as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1997, she supports child victims of war by providing medical and psychological assistance to help them overcome their traumatic experiences. In 2023, she took part in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights held at UNESCO.

Thanks to her remarkable talent for uniting people, Judith Pisar has dedicated her career to building transatlantic cultural bridges, seeing culture as a powerful tool for fostering peace and inclusion.

As President of Arts France-USA, an association committed to cultural exchange between the two countries she organized concerts and festivals of American music in Paris. She was Director of Music at the Brooklyn Academy and Executive Director of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.

Judith Pisar supports UNESCO's actions to foster intercultural dialogue and international cooperation.

The famous Argentine tango singer Susana Rinaldi, who has won some of her country's most prestigious awards, has consistently denounced human rights violations and social injustice.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1992, Susana Rinaldi has performed in many celebrations, including for ¡®Street Children¡¯ in her native Argentina.

Very committed to respecting the rights of artists, Susana Rinaldi, in collaboration with the Spanish National Commission for UNESCO and the Uruguayan Society of Actors, contributed to the creation of Casa de Actores.

Hedva Ser is an internationally renowned French artist whose sculptures, tapestries and jewelry are exhibited around the world.

A committed artist, Hedva Ser has worked to put her art at the service of peace. Her monumental bronze sculpture ¡®The Tree of Peace¡¯ (since 2007) has become an emblem of peace.

As Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Diplomacy and patron of Andorra's Art Camp project, she works alongside UNESCO to promote dialogue between cultures and social inclusion through art.

Under her impetus, the exhibition ¡®Colours for the Planet - Art Camp Andorra¡¯, which took place at UNESCO headquarters in September 2024, was co-organized by the governments of Andorra, Malta, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. The exhibition showcased works created by refugee artists during the Art Camp Andorra residency held at the Temple University campus in Rome in February 2024.

A former President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev held this position from 1991 to 2010 as the first President of the Republic. He actively promotes values and behaviors that encourage dialogue, non-violence and the rapprochement of cultures.

As Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ¡®Republican Foundation for the Revival of Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Republic of Tatarstan¡¯, he works to preserve and promote the Republic's cultural heritage.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, he has also taken part in a number of events devoted to heritage conservation and the promotion of world heritage sites. Under his patronage, in 2023 the first Interregional Symposium of Contemporary Art ¡®Legend of Bolgar¡¯ was held in Bolgar, bringing together artists from different regions of Russia as part of the celebrations of the Muslim month of Mawlid An-Nabi. The aim of the event was to promote the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Bolgar historical and archaeological complex World Heritage Site through contemporary art.

Olympic gold medalist and Brazilian beach volleyball star, Jackie Silva is one of the pioneers of beach volleyball.

Jackie Silva won the gold medal in the inaugural women's beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, partnering with fellow Brazilian Sandra Pires

The Jackie Silva Institute, which she founded, promotes sport and social interaction among young people in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Sport, Jackie Silva helps to raise awareness of the Organization's actions and programmes in favour of education and sport, with a particular focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. In 2023, she organized the Jackie V?ley de Praia LGBTQIA+ Festival, an event held in Rio de Janeiro with the aim of promoting ¡®equality, diversity and inclusion through sport¡¯. The event was sponsored by Brazil's Ministry of Sport and the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, and received support from UNESCO.

Hayat Sindi is a Saudi researcher in biotechnology renowned for her work to create an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and social innovation for scientists, technologists and engineers in the Middle East and beyond.

Her i2institute Institute for Imagination and Ingenuity, aims to give every scientist, technologist and engineer the opportunity to realize their potential, promoting science education and innovation among young people.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 2012, she raises awareness of the Organization's actions and programmes in the natural sciences, particularly with regard to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

In 2020, she launched an appeal for more support for the L'Or¨¦al-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme and their revolutionary contributions to science and society.

Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan is a leading advocate for science as a catalyst for change in the Arab World.

Her Royal Highness's passion for science has led her to head several scientific organizations. She has been President of the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan since 2006, as well as Vice-President of the High Council for Science and Technology, a government body that advises Jordan on science and technology policy issues.

Princess Sumaya supports UNESCO's SESAME initiative, the Synchrotron Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East, laboratory which opened in 2017 in Allan, Jordan.

In her capacity as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Science for Peace, Princess Sumaya supports the centres and organizations set up by UNESCO in the field of scientific diplomacy and encourages cooperation between scientists.

An internationally renowned Georgian-Russian artist, Zurab Tsereteli is also a public figure.

Since 1997, he has served as President of the Russian Academy of Arts. In 1995, he established the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, the first state museum in Russia entirely devoted to modern and contemporary art.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1996, Tsereteli has played a pivotal role in numerous cultural and artistic projects, especially those aimed at young people. His dedication has been instrumental in the success of key initiatives, such as the 2017 International Forum ¡®World Culture as a Resource for Sustainable Development¡¯, held in Moscow.

One of his most notable creations is ¡®The Birth of a New Man¡¯, a sculpture paying tribute to Christopher Columbus, prominently displayed on the piazza at UNESCO¡¯s headquarters.

Every year, his museum, the Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery in Moscow, hosts charitable exhibitions, educational and scientific projects, lectures, and master classes.
At the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, the State Tretyakov Gallery hosted an expanded exhibition showcasing the works of Zurab Tsereteli, commemorating his 90th anniversary.

Brazilian philanthropist Maria de Lourdes Egydio Vilela, known as Mil¨² Villela, founded the Despertar (Wake Up) community association in S?o Paulo in 1994. This organization offers professional courses to local teenagers. In addition to being the founder of the S?o Paulo Volunteer Center, Mil¨² Villela sits on the boards of several associations, including the S?o Paulo Museum of Modern Art.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, she collaborates with UNESCO through the "Todos pela Educa??o" movement, contributing to Brazil's development by promoting quality and equity in basic education. In 2019, Todos pela Educa??o participated in the ¡®Seminar Democracy, Education and Equity: an Agenda for All¡¯, a joint effort by UNESCO Brasilia, the Tide Setubal Foundation and Insper to address the themes of inequality in education, social justice and democracy.

Sunny Varkey is an Indian visionary education entrepreneur. His actions are guided by the philosophy that every child has a fundamental human right to a quality education, regardless of their origin, gender, nationality, or social background.

That is why he created the Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) in 2010, an international education provider. Then, he created in 2011 the Varkey Foundation which has supported financially a range of UNESCO initiatives, including the Global Education Coalition, teacher taskforce and girls¡¯ education.

In his capacity as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education Partnerships, he has organized since 2014 the annual UNESCO World Teacher Prize.

The 2023 World Teachers' Prize ceremony was organized in partnership with UNESCO and Dubai Cares to recognize the crucial role of teachers in raising the social status and prestige of the teaching profession worldwide.

As the First Lady of Cameroon, Chantal Biya leverages her influential position to champion humanitarian causes, dedicating her efforts to promoting social welfare, healthcare, and education.

Chantal Biya engages in philanthropy, particularly advocating for social and educational inclusion. En 2002, elle a initi¨¦ la cr¨¦ation de l'association panafricaine Synergies africaines contre le sida et les souffrances. En f¨¦vrier 2006, elle a re?u la m¨¦daille Marie Curie de l'UNESCO pour son engagement sans faille dans la lutte contre le VIH/SIDA.

UNESCO¡¯s Education for All (EFA) initiative and the Biya Center work together in the areas of health and education, to improve healthcare infrastructure and access to education in Cameroon.

As UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, she advocates for the rights and well-being of women and children, addressing issues such as maternal health and child education. In June 2023, she participated in a Charity Gala to raise funds for hospital works of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Cameroon. She has also emphasized the importance of girls and women taking on more responsibilities in utilizing computer tools and social networks, highlighting the risks of unguided usage. She also attended the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington in 2023, where she advocated for aid in addressing women's cancers in Cameroon.

Naomi Kawase is an internationally acclaimed Japanese producer, who has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival for ¡®The Mourning Forest¡¯ in 2007, and was President of the 44th Cairo International Film Festival in 2022.

She was the official film director of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and has been appointed thematic producer of the 'To Exist' pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Kansai-Osaka, Japan.

As UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural and Creative Industries, she was a panelist in 2022 in the round table ¡®UNESCO acts to promote the development of the film industry in Africa¡¯ and is also the co-organizer of the UNESCO-Nara Film Residency, which opened up new creative opportunities for ten young African women filmmakers.

The fashion designer Sidahmed Seidnaly Alphadi of Niger, known as "the Magician of the Desert", gained international recognition in Haute Couture with support from the most renowned fashion designers, including Yves Saint-Laurent, Christian Lacroix, Paco Rabanne, and Kenzo.

The originality of Alphadi's style lies in the alliance between the ancestral know-how of the Sahel communities and contemporary design. Alphadi showcases his art and presents his collections across Niamey, Casablanca, Paris, New York, Bamako, and many more.

Alphadi is founder and president of the International Festival of African Fashion (FIMA), launched in 1998 under the auspices of UNESCO. In 2012, he created the Alphadi Foundation to improve the living conditions of women and children in the Sahara. In 2016, he joined the UNESCO Coalition of Artists for the General History of Africa as part of the 3rd edition of the Salon Afrique Unie held at the Cit¨¦ de la Mode in Paris.