Davos

Thank you, John, for that kind introduction. It is great to be here with you and other visionary leaders to talk about the importance of education and our experience with the Jordan Education Initiative. And I would like to thank you for your belief in Jordan, and commitment to JEI. Your support, and that of all our partners, has enabled us to grasp an exciting opportunity.

"Thank you Ann, for your kind words… and for all you, and your colleagues at UNICEF, do to make the world a better place for its youngest citizens. 

I am truly honored to accept this role as “Eminent Advocate for Children.” 

It is a fancy title… but I see it as a fundamental job: To do all I can on behalf of child survival and education around the globe. 

Part of that will be to continue my longtime support of UNICEF. Ann, I stand ready to join you whenever and wherever you issue the call. 

Riz Khan (RK): Welcome back. Even one year after Israel’s attacks on Gaza the lives of young Palestinians remains severely disrupted, with a lack infrastructure and importantly proper schooling. It’s an issue that’s touched one of the leading figures in the region, a woman who’s a staunch advocate for children’s rights, I spoke with Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan about her concerns for the region’s youth in the shadow or a stalled Israeli Palestinian peace process.

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Well I do feel that last year I think people were really in crisis mode, the financial crisis was still very new in peoples minds and people I think felt a little defeated, this year I felt people having reflected over the crisis are thinking more how can we fix things how can we move forward, how can we reset and redesign things so were talking more about a global redesign atmosphere.

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(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department- Davos) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah’s core message, delivered during a panel discussion held at the World Economic Forum in Davos, resonated clearly in the halls of the Congress Centre on Saturday: “There is no better equalizer in this world than education; it’s the greatest justice you can give people.”

(Office of Her Majesty, Press Department- Davos) Over the next five years, the city of Milan, which has been selected as the host of the EXPO 2015 world exhibition, will also become a hub for addressing women’s issues across the world, thanks to the “2015: Women and EXPO” project launched on Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

(Office of Her Majesty – Press Department - Davos) - UNICEF and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah signed an agreement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, naming Queen Rania as UNICEF's first ever Eminent Advocate for Children.

After signing the agreement, Queen Rania said, "It is a fancy title, but I see it as a fundamental job: To do all I can on behalf of child survival and education around the globe."

(Office of Her Majesty – Press Department – Davos) - Four years after launching the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI) at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, and two years after taking the initiative global, government and business leaders gathered in Davos, to  highlight the initiative's achievements and outline the value of increasing public private collaboration to expand its outreach.

(Office of Her Majesty – Press Department – Davos) - As the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI) transforms into a global model for innovation in education following groundbreaking success, Queen Rania underscored Jordan’s commitment to remain at the “cutting edge of the cutting edge” in education.
 

(Office of Her Majesty – Press Department – Davos) - The Muslim world is at a “critical crossroad of self examination and self definition” as it faces headlines of misconception and misunderstanding around the world, propagated by an extremist minority.  That was Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah's main message to over 200 delegates attending a panel discussion during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday. Queen Rania, asserted however, that tapping into the energy and talent of youth is a priority solution to the region's most pressing challenges.