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| Queen Letizia of Spain is named Special Ambassador by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva (©FAO/AlessandraBenedetti. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO) |
Queen Letizia of Spain has been named FAO
Special Ambassador for Nutrition in a ceremony in Rome today.
The appointment was made in recognition of
the Queen's personal commitment to building a world free from hunger and
malnutrition, and Spain's efforts to promote global food and nutritional security.
It also reflects the Queen's strong
interest in scientific research that supports health, education and innovation.
As Special Ambassador, Queen Letizia will
engage in raising awareness of global hunger challenges and building public
support for hunger eradication.
"My task is that of serving the
objectives of this UN agency in the most effective way possible," the
Queen told representatives of FAO's Members gathered at the Organization's
governing Conference.
"In this day and age, we have the
technical capacity to produce healthy food in sufficient quantities for all.
Therefore what we must do is mobilize the will," she said, calling for
"collective action involving governments, the private sector, civil society,
and, of course, individuals. We need everyone on board."
During her address Queen Letizia stressed
the critical need of ensuring good nutrition for pregnant and breastfeeding
mothers and for young children during the first years of life.
She added that the agro-food sector should
participate in advancing toward these goals "in an active and responsible
way, helping raise awareness of the need to support people in living healthy
lives free of sickness."
Echoing the key message of an FAO book
released yesterday, the Queen described the benefits of the traditional
Mediterranean diet, calling it "the best example of healthy and
sustainable eating."
Hunger eradication can be our generation's
"greatest legacy"
"We are fully confidently that her
majesty will help those who most need it break the vicious cycle of chronic
hunger and malnutrition," said FAO Director-General José Graziano da
Silva.
"Eradication of hunger and
malnutrition can and should be the greatest legacy we leave to humanity. Let us
make that a reality," he added.
According to FAO's latest assessment, the
number of hungry people in the world has been reduced by 216 million since
1990. However, some 795 million still experience chronic undernourishment
today.
"At the same time, obesity rates are
going up, primarily in medium- and high-income countries," the
Director-General noted. Children are especially vulnerable to nutrition
problems, he noted.
Second International Conference on
Nutrition
Queen Letizia was last at FAO for the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition, held at FAO's Rome headquarters last
November, where she also spoke. At ICN2 world leaders adopted the Rome
Declaration on Nutrition and a supporting Framework for Action which include
the commitment to eradication malnutrition and transform agricultural systems
in order to ensure healthy diets for all.
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| (©FAO/AlessandraBenedetti. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO) |
"FAO, together with its Members and
partners, is determined to intensify activities aimed at implement the
commitments made at ICN2," said FAO's Director-General, inviting countries
to support a newly established Action for Nutrition Trust Fund.
Tackling the challenge of malnutrition in
all its forms head on is "a sound investment," said the Queen, who
after delivering her speech joined a group of FAO experts in nutrition and
education in order to discuss the Organization's work on nutrition and her work
as Special Ambassador.
Visit the FAO website HERE.
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