Mary in Geneva: day two

On the second day of Crown Princess Mary's visit to Geneva she has visited the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum. Mary was welcomed by Roger Mayou, Director of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum and given a guided tour. Later in a visit to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mary was welcomed by the Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, and the Director of the Regional Office for Europe, Dr. Marc Danzon, with whom we are familiar since he is based in Copenhagen. Following a working lunch hosted by the Director-General (at WHO Headquarters), Mary was presented to Danish nationals working at WHO Headquarters. Afterwards Mary visited the Strategic Health Operations Centre (SHOC) and then had a briefing on child health and immunisation. She later received a briefing on Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, Nutrition for Health and Development and Mental Health. Later in the afternoon Mary departed WHO to go to the Palais des Nations of the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva. Then Mary was welcomed by the Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Mr Sergei Ordzhonikidze. After a meeting with the Director-General, Mary had a guided tour of the Palais des Nations and then an evening departure from the United Nations Office before the two hour flight from Geneva to Copenhagen on her fourth wedding anniversary.



WHO Europe
WHO
United Nations Office in Geneva
Denmark's UN Mission
U.N. Geneva Director-General Sergei Ordzhonikidze
U.N. Warns Second Cyclone Is Forming Near Hard-Hit Burma - as an example of the kind of new environmental refugee highlighted by the UN and the UNHCR
UNHCR donation link for Burma

Mary in Geneva for visit with UNHCR & WHO

High Commissioner António Guterres and Crown Princess Mary in discussion in front of a bust of Arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen and beside a case displaying UNHCR's two Nobel Peace Prize medals. © UNHCR/S.Hopper

Crown Princess Mary is on a two day visit to Geneva meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Mary is the patron of the Danish Refugee Council and the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe. On the first day of the visit to Geneva Mary has been welcomed by High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr António Guterres, UNHCR staff and children of Danish staff. Afterwards she had a private meeting with Commissioner Guterres and then a working lunch at UNHCR headquarters. UNHCR has won two Nobel Peace Prizes, in 1954 and 1981. In the evening Mary attended a dinner hosted by Ambassador Marie-Louise Overvad, Denmark's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva. (More details and photos to follow...)



Danish Refugee Council
The UN Refugee Agency
WHO Europe
Climate Change: U.N. Braces for New Breed of Refugees - one of the new issues facing the UNHCR
United Nations Office in Geneva
Dansk Flygtningehjælp press release from the Danish Refugee Council -
HRH Crown Princess Mary visits UNHCR
In her role as patron of the Danish Refugee Council, HRH The Crown Princess visits the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Geneva on Tuesday, where she meets with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres, among others.
During the visit in Geneva the Crown Princess is accompanied by chairman Knud Larsen and secretary general Andreas Kamm from Dansk Flygtningehjælp.
"We are very glad that the Crown Princess has expressed a wish to further her knowledge of the global work for refugees," says Andreas Kamm. "UNHCR is a decisive player in the fugitive area, and it is therefore important for our patron to gain insight into the organization's principles and working methods."
In 2007 Dansk Flygtningehjælp and UNHCR entered into an agreement with the intention of strengthening the cooperation within the areas of protection, relief and the work of rights'-based spokespeople.
The two organizations work together in more than 20 countries, where fugitives and internally expelled need protection, necessities of life and long-term solutions.
UNHCR is one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations with 6.300 employees in 116 countries.
Dansk Flygtningehjælp works with about 5.000 employees in 30 of the world's focus areas.
UNHCR press release - Denmark's Crown Princess Mary visits UNHCR headquarters
GENEVA, May 13 (UNHCR) – Denmark's Crown Princess Mary on Tuesday made an official visit to UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, where High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres praised her country's global engagement in the refugee cause.
The Australia-born princess, dressed in a dark trouser suit, received a red-carpet welcome at midday in UNHCR's seven-storey atrium. She received flowers from three Danish children – Simon, 4, Astrid, 6, and Mathilde, 8, whose father Morten Ussing is a UNHCR staffer seconded to UNAIDS.
She spoke in Danish to the children and their mother before posing with Guterres for photos in front of the UN and Danish flags. Another group of children waved Danish flags as UNHCR staff looked on from the lobby and galleries above.
"It is my great pleasure to welcome you to UNHCR," Guterres told the princess during an introductory meeting in his office. "Denmark has a very long tradition of asylum ... and is a very relevant partner in refugee work worldwide."
The High Commissioner noted the very strong "strategic partnership" between UNHCR and the Danish Refugee Council, of which the princess is a royal patron. "You can be very proud of the work of Danish volunteers and civil society – they are brave, committed and effective," he said. "Denmark is one of our most relevant partners."
Guterres presented the princess, who also expressed an interest in the legal aspects of the agency's work and the 1951 Refugee Convention, with a UNHCR publication, "Refugee Protection in International Law."
Noting the difficult challenges posed by migration, climate change, environmental degradation, conflict and displacement, Guterres said the 21st Century "will be a century of people on the move" presenting complex protection problems.
Following a working lunch, the princess was given a series of informal briefings by senior UNHCR staff from the Department of International Protection Services, the Regional Bureau for Africa and the Division of Operational Services, which gave a demonstration of the agency's emergency room operations.
In addition to UNHCR's emergency and technical work, the briefings focused on international refugee protection, resettlement, internal displacement, durable solutions for refugees and children at risk.
At the end of her four-hour visit, Guterres showed [Crown] Princess Mary the agency's two Nobel Peace Prizes displayed in a glass case in the atrium, before escorting her to her vehicle. "It really was a valuable experience," she said.
Aside from the Danish Refugee Council, [Crown] Princess Mary is also royal patron of a number of other charities in Denmark that focus on health, children's welfare, diversity and refugee issues. She has established The Mary Foundation, which seeks to encourage tolerance of diversity and to improve lives compromised by environment, heredity, illness or other circumstances which can isolate or exclude people socially.
Denmark's Crown Princess Mary visits UNHCR headquarters from Reuters in English
¡Hola! - in brief - referring to Mary's two days visiting the UN agencies in Geneva and her interest in the issues.

Mary @ WHO Euro Immunisation Week in Slovenia

Slovenia's First Lady Barbara Turk and Crown Princess Mary. Photos © rtvslo.si/daylife/Reuter

Today Crown Princess Mary has travelled to Ljubljana in Slovenia to launch the World Health Organisation's European Immunisation Week at Ljubljana Palace with the First Lady of Slovenia, Barbara Miklic Türk. Before the launch Mary visited the Health Centre of Ljubljana-Šiška and the National Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, which was founded in 1923 and is concerned with many research efforts in health education, WHO public health work (HIV/AIDS and health prevention), mental health research, participation in various international and national health research and other projects, anti tobacco and alcohol programs, etc. Crown Princess Mary, who is patron to the European Immunization Week, launched the event together with Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe, while the event is hosted by the First Lady, Mrs Barbara Miklic Türk, wife of the President of the Republic of Slovenia. Mary and Dr Marc Danzon include addressing members of the diplomatic corps, health officials and the media in their program during the two day visit.





Crown Princess Mary's Speech launching Immunization Week (23 April 2008):

First lady, Regional Director, distinguished guests,
It was with pleasure that I accepted the invitation to say a few words on the occasion of the launch of the European Immunization Week – a week dedicated to strengthening immunization programmes and raising awareness of the benefits of vaccination throughout the European region.
As Patron of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, I am committed, along with many others, to helping improve the health and well-being of the people of the European region. In particular those lacking access to basic medical services.
Immunization saves lives. Apart from safe drinking water, no other health intervention has reduced diseases and mortality as effectively and safely as immunization. No child should suffer from illness, a lifelong disability or die due to vaccine-preventable diseases.
Immunization now reaches over 90% of the children in this region. However, discrepancies in population groups still persist and a large number of unvaccinated children can be found in countries throughout the region. These vulnerable or hard-to-reach children must be reached with life-saving vaccines.
Due to the achievements of immunization, incidences of dangerous vaccine preventable infections have declined leaving weakened fear of these diseases. Furthermore, many health care professionals and parents have no first hand experience with illnesses such as measles, diphtheria and pertussis. As a result, continued advocacy and effective communication on the necessity of immunization remains crucial.
It is the right of every child to grow up healthy, and vaccinated against those diseases that can so easily be controlled. I hope that the countries within the region will act quickly and effectively to ensure that children and adults, especially those in vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups, have access to immunization and basic health services.
The importance of immunization cannot be underestimated. The diversity of the region creates enormous challenges in your efforts to reach your common goal of increasing vaccination coverage. I wish you and the region’s member states every success in achieving that goal.
Good luck and thank you.

Screencaps from clip posted below,

World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe
WHO Immunization in the European Region - aims for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization
WHO focus on Slovenia
Medical News Blog 'Immunization: The Success Paradox - 33 Countries From Ireland To Tajikistan Take Part In European Immunization Week 2008'

National Institute of Public Health (pdf)
GENDEP research at the National Institute of Public Health (one of the Institute's WHO connected projects on mental health and depression research)
Projects at the National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

Slovenia.info
Slovenia - country info
Slovenia photo gallery
TrekEarth Slovenia photo gallery

24ur.com video clip (01:14) - may be slow to load on slow connections

Mary at WHO Europe with Ukraine First Lady

Today Crown Princess Mary has called in on the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe together with the First Lady of Ukraine Kateryna Yushchenko. As we know, Mary is patron of the regional office. The Ukranian presidential couple is visiting Denmark for two days for President Victor Yushchenko to have talks with Danish leaders and to sign co-operative agreements. President Yushchenko is also meeting with Danish business leaders and is giving a speech on Ukraine's integration into Europe. He has also had a private audience with Queen Margrethe.



Biography of Kateryna Yushchenko - she was born in Chicago to Ukranian migrants, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in International Economics (cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from the Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service (1982), in 1986 she completed an MBA focusing on International Finance and Public Non-Profit Management from the University of Chicago. Kateryna married Victor Yushchenko in 1998 and they have three children, Sophia, 8, Chrystyna, 6, and son Taras, 2. Kateryna Yushchenko is also stepmother to Victor Yushchenko’s two older children, Vitalina, 26, and Andriy, 20. She is involved in many projects and activities including The Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund as a means of developing Ukraine in it's post-Soviet democratic future.
First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko Reflects on Her New Role by Marta Kolomayets first published in The Ukrainian Weekly (3 April 2005)
Recent activities of Kateryna Yushchenko
WHO on Ukraine (mostly pdf documents, but indicates some of the significant health problems in Ukraine including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, smoking-related disease and system transition problems in health care.
BBC profile of Victor Yushchenko
Who Poisoned Yushchenko? from Worldpress.org

Mary launches WHO anti-obesity charter

Today Crown Princess Mary has launched the European Charter on Counteracting Obesity as the as patron of WHO in Europe . The WHO Regional Office for Europe which is based in Copenhagen represents 53 countries which have multiple and varied health problems. Despite Europe's wealth, 165 million people live below the poverty line in the region as well as other diverse problems of wealthy countries as well. The WHO anti-obesity Charter was adopted at the WHO meeting in Turkey last November and now Mary is launching the targeted programs which are a product of the charter.



Mary was met by Dr. Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe before entering the launch meeting. English is obviously the language for WHO - Mary's speech has been posted on their site despite the Danish title:

Støtteerklæring

Regional Director, distinguished guests, it is a great pleasure to say a few words to mark this important occasion ‑ the launch of the European Charter on Counteracting Obesity.

As patron of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, part of my focus is to generate greater public awareness about how important physical activity and a balanced diet are to our health and well-being, and how vital these two factors are in tackling obesity. I have previously referred to my personal commitment to being physically active and eating a healthy varied diet, and in supporting my family to do the same.

The statistics on obesity, so often repeated, are becoming more alarming. Across the WHO European Region, twenty per cent of children are currently overweight, and if the epidemic progresses unchecked, it is projected that one in ten will be obese by 2010. It is now evident that obesity is a major health challenge in the Region, and that coordinated action is needed to address the problem.

The adoption of the European Charter on Counteracting Obesity is the first of its kind in this area, therefore comes at a critical time. I have followed the development of the Charter with interest, and admire the valuable work that has been done to accommodate the perspectives of so many different interest groups. Groups that have been brought together to address a common public health goal.

I would therefore like to recognize the contribution made by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in facilitating the development of the Charter, and congratulate those public health experts throughout the Region who have worked to make it a reality.

I believe that the Charter is an important milestone in addressing the challenge of obesity. And I hope that the action it produces will serve as a turning point to adapt the environment we live in and ultimately enable everyone in the WHO European Region to make healthier choices. I am aware of the efforts of the WHO Regional Office for Europe to promote and implement the Charter, and wish you and the Region’s Member States every success in achieving your goals.

Good luck and thank you.


TV2 gallery
WHO Health Topics - obesity
European Charter on counteracting obesity (as a WHO pdf file) which contends the obesity epidemic is reversible and that specific policies and programs can be developed and adopted as a matter of both social and health policy...
Added: DR1 evening news The obesity charter launch story with Mary speaking is at 22:10. (thanks Leonie!)
European Charter offers turning point in struggle against obesity WHO press release on the launch:
...Speaking about the Charter at the launch, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Patroness of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, says, "I hope that the action it produces will serve as a turning point to adapt the environment we live in and ultimately enable everyone in the WHO European Region to make healthy choices"...

Mary attends WHO reception

On Tuesday, September 12, Crown Princess Mary attended the Health Ministers' reception in connection with the ongoing World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe's 2006 conference. The reception was held at Denmark's Aquarium. The Regional Committee comprises ministers of health and other health decision-makers from the 52 WHO Member States in the Region.

You can watch a video of Mary's arrival at www.localeyes.dk (free registration required)



related post: Mary attends WHO conference

Mary attends WHO conference

Crown Princess Mary has spoken at the opening of the fifty-sixth session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Europe conference for 2006. Top of the agenda is a new regional strategy to fight the growing burden of chronic diseases and action on key health security issues including averting a possible influenza pandemic. Mary accepted this patronage in May 2005. We have already noted a number of times in our royal roundups that Mary has attended numerous meetings to establish her relationships and knowledge for this patronage, which has ramifications outside of Denmark. This is Mary's first address as patron of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Crown Princess Mary has recently pledged to support WHO in its campaign to improve maternal and child health and mental health, and to promote healthy lifestyles. The WHO Regional Office for Europe is based in Copenhagen, so Mary's involvement as patron is a good match for the benefit of the important work of WHO. "The World Health Organization is the UN agency with a specific mandate for health. The 192 WHO Member States are grouped into six regions. The WHO Regional Office for Europe works with 52 countries in western and eastern Europe and central Asia and is based in Copenhagen. Its mission is to strengthen national and local health systems and improve the health of the people in the Region, in collaboration with governments, NGOs and other partners."

Delegates from the 52 European Member States of WHO will discuss the European strategy on non-communicable diseases, the proposed program budget for 2008-2009, the medium-term strategic plan for 2008-2013, the future of the WHO Regional Office for Europe and health security. There will also be discussion of other internal WHO Regional Office for Europe matters (see link). Also, for an insight into the breadth of the progams and projects WHO Europe is involved in check here. From Marc Danzon (he greeted Mary on arrival in grey suit), WHO Regional Director for Europe: "Despite the remarkable achievements of the past, the new century sees more than 165 million people in the 53 countries that make up the WHO European Region living below the poverty line. These people live under conditions of economic instability and social exclusion that prevent them from realizing their right to a healthy life – a basic human right of all citizens of the world."
You can read the biennial report of the WHO regional director for 2004-2005 here in pdf format.




Photos by Tariq Mikkel Khan of POLFOTO:


Crown Princess Mary's speech (in English)