UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador is an official postnominal honorific title, title of authority, legal status and job description assigned to those goodwill ambassadors and advocates who are designated by the United Nations. UNESCO goodwill ambassadors are celebrity and expert advocates of UNESCO (not diplomatic ambassadors) who use their talent or fame to spread the UNESCO ideals, especially attracting media attention. Other specialized categories of advocates include UNESCO Artist for Peace, UNESCO Champion for Sport and UNESCO Special Envoy.
Current UNESCO goodwill ambassadors The following is a list of UNESCO goodwill ambassadors along with the projects and activities they support:
Name Country Date Projects and Activities SupportedUNESCO.org: Projects and activities supported by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors LinkXueli Abbing2022Fight against discriminations and racism Valdas Adamkus 2003 Construction of Knowledge Societies Seidnaly Sidahmed Alphadi2016for African innovation and creationChristiane Amanpour2015Freedom of expression and journalist safetyYalitza Aparicio2019Indigenous PeoplesMetin Arditi2014UNESCO Honorary Ambassador and Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue Chantal Biya 2008 Education and Social Inclusion Claude-Alix Bertrand2014Culture, Education, Cultural Diplomacy, Children's Rights, Sport and TourismSergey Bubka2003for SportLaura Welch Bush2003UNESCO.org: Laura Bush named Honorary Ambassador, 13-02-2003UNESCO Honorary Ambassador for the Decade of Literacy in the context of the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003–2012) Claudia Cardinale 2000 Promotion of women's rights, especially for women in the Mediterranean; Environment issues Princess Caroline of Hanover2003Protection of children and the family, empowerment of women and girls in AfricaMauro Colagreco 2022BiodiversityPrincess Dana Firas2017Heritage protection and preservation_Rossy de Palma2022Cultural DiversityTan Dun2013Viatcheslav Fetissov2004for Sport Vigdís Finnbogadóttir 1998 Promotion of linguistic diversity, women's rights, education Princess Firyal of Jordan 1992 Promotion of the Education for All initiative, humanitarian actions, World Heritage, women's rights, especially Arab women Sen Genshitsu2012 Nizan Guanaes 2011 Herbie Hancock2011 Bahia Hariri 2000 Preservation of World Heritage, education, culture, women's rights and sustainable development in the Arab world Vitaly Ignatenko 2008 Building of the capacities of the Russian language journalists and promotion of the free circulation of ideas in the Russian-speaking world Jean Michel Jarre 1993 Protection of the environment (water, fight against desertification, renewable energies), youth and tolerance, safeguarding of World Heritage Beate Klarsfeld and Serge Klarsfeld2015UNESCO Honorary Ambassadors and Special Envoys for Education about the History of Holocaust and Genocide PreventionNaomi Kawase2021for Cultural and Creative Industries Nasser David Khalili 2012 Promotion of intercultural dialogue and promotion of peace through education and culture. Deeyah Khan Artistic freedom and creativity Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière 2009 Education about History of Holocaust and genocide prevention. Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco 2001 Protection of childhood and women's rights Princess Laurentien of the Kingdom of the Netherlands2009UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for DevelopmentPeng Liyuan2014UNESCO Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girl's and Women’s Education Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand 2005 Empowerment of Minority Children and the Preservation of their Intangible Cultural Heritage Jean Malaurie 2007UNESCO.org: Professor Jean Malaurie joins ranks of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, 17-07-2007 In charge of arctic polar issues, promoting environmental issues and safeguarding the culture and knowledge of the peoples of the Arctic Grand Duchess María Teresa of Luxembourg 1997 Education, Women's rights, microfinance and campaign against poverty Denis Matsuev2014Promotion of musical education and his efforts to support young talent through the New Names Foundation.Maria Francesca Merloni2017 Oskar Metsavaht 2011 Vera Michalski-Hoffmann2016 Hayat Sindi 2012 Promotion of science education for Arab women Vik Muniz 2011 Kitín Muñoz 1997 Protection and promotion of indigenous cultures and their environment Alexandra Ochirova2012 Ute-Henriette Ohoven 1992 UNESCO Special Ambassador for Education of Children in Need Kim Phuc Phan Thi 1994 Protection and education for children, orphans and innocent victims of war Judith Pisar2017UNESCO Special Envoy for Cultural Diplomacy Susana Rinaldi 1992 Street children, Culture of Peace Hedva Ser2011Cultural diplomacyMintimer Shaïmiev2017UNESCO Special Envoy for Intercultural DialogueSA Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser2003Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education Jaqueline Silva2009Hayat Sindi2012Promotion de l'enseignement scientifique pour les femmes arabesPrincess Sumaya bint El Hassan2017Pour la science au service de la paixSalif Traoré2012 Zurab Tsereteli 1996 Cultural and artistic projects Marianna Vardinoyannis 1999 Protection of childhood; promotion of cultural Olympics; humanitarian relief for war victims Sunny Varkey 2012 Promoter of education. Currently in United Arab Emirates. Milú Villela 2004 Voluntary Action and Basic Education in Latin America Forest Whitaker 2011 UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation
Former Ambassadors Name Country Tenure as Ambassador LinkIvonne A-Baki2010-2020Ara Abramian2003 - 2022Mehriban Aliyeva2004 - 2022Promotion and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, especially oral traditions and expressionsJosé Antonio Abreu1998 - 2018Paul Ahyi2009 - 2010Virgilijus Alekna2007 - 2020Alicia Alonso2002 - 2019Patrick Baudry1999 - 2020Pierre Bergé1992 - 2017 Montserrat Caballé1994 - 2018Pierre Cardin1991 - 2020Maha al-Khalil Chalabi2016 - 2022Heritage protection and preservation in TyreMarin Constantin 1992–2011 Esther Coopersmith 2009–2024 Cheick Modibo Diarra1998 - 2020Miguel Angel Estrella1989 - 2022Promotion of Culture of Peace and tolerance through musicJuan Diego Florez2012 - 2020Sheikh Ghassan I. Shaker 1989–2011 Ivry Gitlis1998 - 2020Christine Hakim2008 - 2020Ikuo Hirayama 1989–2009 S. Exc. M. Mwai Kibaki2005 - 2022For Water in AfricaLily Marinho 1999–2011 Rabah Madjer2011 - 2020Nelson Mandela2005 - 2013Rigoberta Menchú Tum1996 - 2020Yehudi Menuhin 1992–1999 Brochure of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, page 30Cristina Owen-Jones2004 - 2020Renzo Piano........ - 2014Samuel Pisar........ - 2015Ivo Pogorelić 1988–2009 Mstislav Rostropovich 1998–2007 Yazid Sabeg2010 - 2020Serik Sapiyev2013 - 2020Giancarlo Elia Valori2001 - 2022Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage
See also Goodwill Ambassador FAO Goodwill Ambassador UNDP Goodwill Ambassador UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador UNODC Goodwill Ambassador UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador UN Women Goodwill Ambassador UNIDO Goodwill Ambassador UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador WFP Goodwill Ambassador WHO Goodwill Ambassador
References
External links UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors