Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Maria Teresa
UNICEF Eminent Advocate since 2007
“UNICEF's work is based on the worth and dignity of the child, and I am proud to be part of that mission."
Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Maria Teresa was named UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children in 2007.
The Grand Duchess has long been a champion for children. Before joining UNICEF in her official role, she travelled to places such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Laos and Nepal to raise awareness for child soldiers and children affected by HIV/AIDS and sexual exploitation.
As a UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children, the Grand Duchess is especially focused on the issues of children impacted by conflict and HIV/AIDS. She has travelled to Brazil and China to meet with children and youth affected by HIV/AIDS, to Burundi to advocate for the rights of children in the aftermath of the country’s civil conflict, to Lebanon to see work on gender-based violence, and to Turkey to raise awareness and support for children impacted by the conflict in Syria.
The Grand Duchess is also the Patron of the Luxembourg Committee for UNICEF, and has been a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO since 1997, promoting girls’ education and microcredit to fight poverty.
The Grand Duchess was born on 22 March 1956 in Havana, Cuba. Her family moved to New York in 1959 before settling in Geneva in 1965.
It was during her university studies in political science that the Grand Duchess met her future husband, His Royal Highness Prince Henri of Luxembourg. They were married in 1981 and have five children.
The Grand Duchess's activity with UNICEF
2018
- Prior to hosting a 2019 conference on gender-based violence, the Grand Duchess visited Lebanon to learn about UNICEF’s work with refugee women and children who have suffered trauma and sexual violence.
2009
- The Grand Duchess visited Burundi in the aftermath of a civil conflict that killed hundreds of thousands of people.
2008
- The Grand Duchess visited China to attend the 5th Annual UNICEF Summer Camp for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS.
2007
- The Grand Duchess visited Brazil to help raise awareness and support for children and youth affected by HIV/AIDS.