Queen Mathilde: november 2019

vrijdag 22 november 2019

Bambi Award for Mathilde

21 November 2019

Queen Mathilde received the German Bambi Award, category Charity, for defending and improving children's rights. The ceremony took place in Baden-Baden.

Bambi is Germany's most important award ceremony of the year, aired live on German TV.

Mathilde was accompanied by the Belgian ambassador to Germany, Willem Van de Voorde.

After saying a few words in German, Mathilde gave a speech in English which was dubbed in German.

"Stigmatization of people with mental disorders and the taboo that surrounds them is still high. We must listen to what young people have to say about the issue. We must talk about it. Draw attention to it. Above all, we must break the silence. Each and every one of us can be an influencer and a changemaker for the common good.

My aim is to make a difference by “giving a voice to the voiceless”. I feel humbled by this prestigious award. I want to share it with the many people who are committed to defending children’s rights. In particular, I want to share it with the local changemakers in the field, who work so hard, every single day, to create equal opportunities and justice for all.

Thank you for this wonderful token of recognition, which I dedicate to vulnerable children and youngsters, wherever they are growing up."

Another Bambi Award winner, category Courage, was Nadia Murad.

Among the guests:

Prince Albert-Henri de Merode & his German wife, Countess Marie-Christine von Soden-Fraunhofen.

Prince Bernhard & Princess Stephanie von Baden.

Other royals have received this award in previous years:

Queen Silvia of Sweden in 2006.

Queen Rania of Jordan in 2007.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark in 2014.

woensdag 20 november 2019

Children's Rights + Royal Warrant Holders 2019

20 November 2019

The King & Queen hosted a reception at the royal palace in honour of the new royal warrant holders.

Art Conservationist Emilie Gonçalves.

Rose Nursery Lens from Oudenburg.

Furniture shop Meubili from Knokke.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/11/20/koning-filip-en-koningin-mathilde-ontvangen-vijf-nieuwe-hoflever/

In the afternoon there was a second official activity for Mathilde.

As honorary chairwoman of Unicef Belgium, Queen Mathilde pronounced the opening speech at the EU conference for the 30th anniversary of the Declaration of Children's Rights.

.@EP_President meets Queen Mathilde of Belgium ahead of Conference for 30th anniversary of Convention on Rights of the Child #EUforchildren

Watch 📽️ https://t.co/emd46H2XPU

See more 📽️ 📻 📷 here ➡️ https://t.co/ABizsT6oTU #EUforchildren pic.twitter.com/QwZNQJkLp1
— EP Audiovisual (@europarlAV) November 20, 2019

The conference was held at the European Parliament in Brussels.

With the President of of the European Parliament, David Sassoli.

Ahead of the opening ceremony for #UNCRC30 there had been a meeting between Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Foreign Minister of Ghana, Queen Mathilde, President of the European Parliament David Sassoli and chair of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, Marie Arena.

Mathilde's opening address was pronounced in French.

"Depuis plusieurs années, je me rends sur le terrain en tant que Présidente d’honneur d’Unicef Belgique ou Défenseur des Objectifs du développement durable des Nations Unies.

Lors de ces visites, j’ai toujours à cœur de rencontrer les plus vulnérables parmi les enfants : ceux qui se trouvent séparés de leur famille, ceux qui ont subi les traumatismes de la guerre, ceux qui vivent dans l’extrême pauvreté, ou ceux qui sont victimes de maladies et de handicaps."

"La Convention internationale sur les droits de l’enfant a fait, lors de son adoption, il y a trente ans, l’objet d’un consensus extrêmement large.

Presque tous les États membres des Nations Unies l’ont ratifiée : l’amélioration de la situation des enfants dans le monde est clairement une préoccupation partagée par tous."

"La Convention proclame que les enfants ont des droits, comme tous les êtres humains, mais aussi des droits spécifiques, comme le droit à la santé et à l’éducation, justement parce qu’ils sont des enfants. Vu leur vulnérabilité, ils doivent être protégés contre les effets de la pauvreté et des conflits et contre toutes les formes d’abus, d’exploitation ou de violence. La Convention reconnaît également leur liberté d’opinion et leur droit à s’exprimer. La voix des enfants peut désormais se faire entendre."

"L’adoption de la Convention internationale sur les droits de l’enfant a non seulement suscité de grands espoirs, mais aussi apporté de grands changements.

Depuis lors, une génération d’enfants sont devenus des adultes, mais seulement certains d’entre eux ont vu ces espoirs et ces changements se matérialiser. Pour avancer, il faut donc retrouver l’élan unanime qui a porté la Convention à ses débuts."