# UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador is an official postnominal honorific title, title of authority, legal status and job description assigned to those goodwill ambassadors and advocates who are designated by the United Nations. UNESCO goodwill ambassadors are celebrity and expert advocates of UNESCO (not diplomatic ambassadors) who use their talent or fame to spread the UNESCO ideals, especially attracting media attention. Other specialized categories of advocates include UNESCO Artist for Peace, UNESCO Champion for Sport and UNESCO Special Envoy.

## Current UNESCO goodwill ambassadors

The following is a list of UNESCO goodwill ambassadors along with the projects and activities they support:
| Name | Country | Date | Projects and Activities Supported | Link |
| Xueli Abbing | Netherlands | 2022 | Fight against discriminations and racism | |
| Valdas Adamkus | Lithuania | 2003 | Construction of Knowledge Societies | |
| Seidnaly Sidahmed Alphadi | Niger | 2016 | for African innovation and creation | |
| Christiane Amanpour | United Kingdom | 2015 | Freedom of expression and journalist safety | |
| Yalitza Aparicio | Mexico | 2019 | Indigenous Peoples | |
| Metin Arditi | Switzerland | 2014 | UNESCO Honorary Ambassador and Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue | |
| Chantal Biya | Cameroon | 2008 | Education and Social Inclusion | |
| Sergey Bubka | Ukraine | 2003 | for Sport | |
| Laura Welch Bush | United States | 2003 | UNESCO Honorary Ambassador for the Decade of Literacy in the context of the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003–2012) | |
| Claudia Cardinale | Italy | 2000 | Promotion of women's rights, especially for women in the Mediterranean; Environment issues | |
| Princess Caroline of Hanover | Monaco | 2003 | Protection of children and the family, empowerment of women and girls in Africa | |
| Mauro Colagreco | Argentina | 2022 | Biodiversity | |
| Princess Dana Firas | Jordan | 2017 | Heritage protection and preservation | _ |
| Rossy de Palma | Spain | 2022 | Cultural Diversity | |
| Tan Dun | China | 2013 | | |
| Viatcheslav Fetissov | Russia | 2004 | for Sport | |
| Vigdís Finnbogadóttir | Iceland | 1998 | Promotion of linguistic diversity, women's rights, education | |
| Princess Firyal of Jordan | Jordan | 1992 | Promotion of the Education for All initiative, humanitarian actions, World Heritage, women's rights, especially Arab women | |
| Sen Genshitsu | Japan | 2012 | | |
| Nizan Guanaes | Brazil | 2011 | | |
| Herbie Hancock | United States | 2011 | | |
| Bahia Hariri | Lebanon | 2000 | Preservation of World Heritage, education, culture, women's rights and sustainable development in the Arab world | |
| Vitaly Ignatenko | Russia | 2008 | Building of the capacities of the Russian language journalists and promotion of the free circulation of ideas in the Russian-speaking world | |
| Jean Michel Jarre | France | 1993 | Protection of the environment (water, fight against desertification, renewable energies), youth and tolerance, safeguarding of World Heritage | |
| Beate Klarsfeld and Serge Klarsfeld | France | 2015 | UNESCO Honorary Ambassadors and Special Envoys for Education about the History of Holocaust and Genocide Prevention | |
| Naomi Kawase | Japan | 2021 | for Cultural and Creative Industries | |
| Nasser David Khalili | United Kingdom | 2012 | Promotion of intercultural dialogue and promotion of peace through education and culture. | |
| Deeyah Khan | Norway | 2016 | Artistic freedom and creativity | |
| Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière | France | 2009 | Education about History of Holocaust and genocide prevention. | |
| Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco | Morocco | 2001 | Protection of childhood and women's rights | |
| Princess Laurentien of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | Netherlands | 2009 | UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development | |
| Peng Liyuan | China | 2014 | UNESCO Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girl's and Women’s Education | |
| Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand | Thailand | 2005 | Empowerment of Minority Children and the Preservation of their Intangible Cultural Heritage | |
| Jean Malaurie | France | 2007 | In charge of arctic polar issues, promoting environmental issues and safeguarding the culture and knowledge of the peoples of the Arctic | |
| Grand Duchess María Teresa of Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 1997 | Education, Women's rights, microfinance and campaign against poverty | |
| Denis Matsuev | Russia | 2014 | Promotion of musical education and his efforts to support young talent through the New Names Foundation. | |
| Maria Francesca Merloni | Italy | 2017 | | |
| Oskar Metsavaht | Brazil | 2011 | | |
| Vera Michalski-Hoffmann | Switzerland | 2016 | | |
| Hayat Sindi | Saudi Arabia | 2012 | Promotion of science education for Arab women | |
| Vik Muniz | Brazil | 2011 | | |
| Kitín Muñoz | Spain | 1997 | Protection and promotion of indigenous cultures and their environment | |
| Alexandra Ochirova | Russia | 2012 | | |
| Ute-Henriette Ohoven | Germany | 1992 | UNESCO Special Ambassador for Education of Children in Need | |
| Kim Phuc Phan Thi | Vietnam | 1994 | Protection and education for children, orphans and innocent victims of war | |
| Judith Pisar | United States | 2017 | UNESCO Special Envoy for Cultural Diplomacy | |
| Susana Rinaldi | Argentina | 1992 | Street children, Culture of Peace | |
| Hedva Ser | France | 2011 | Cultural diplomacy | |
| Mintimer Shaïmiev | Russia | 2017 | UNESCO Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue | |
| SA Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser | Qatar | 2003 | Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education | |
| Jaqueline Silva | Brazil | 2009 | | |
| Hayat Sindi | Saudi Arabia | 2012 | Promotion de l'enseignement scientifique pour les femmes arabes | |
| Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan | Jordan | 2017 | Pour la science au service de la paix | |
| Salif Traoré | Ivory Coast | 2012 | | |
| Zurab Tsereteli | Georgia | 1996 | Cultural and artistic projects | |
| Marianna Vardinoyannis | Greece | 1999 | Protection of childhood; promotion of cultural Olympics; humanitarian relief for war victims | |
| Sunny Varkey | India | 2012 | Promoter of education. Currently in United Arab Emirates. | |
| Milú Villela | Brazil | 2004 | Voluntary Action and Basic Education in Latin America | |
| Forest Whitaker | United States | 2011 | UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation | |

## Former Ambassadors

| Name | Country | Tenure as Ambassador | Link |
| Ivonne A-Baki | Ecuador | 2010-2020 | |
| Ara Abramian | Russia | 2003 - 2022 | |
| Mehriban Aliyeva | Azerbaijan | 2004 - 2022 | Promotion and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, especially oral traditions and expressions |
| José Antonio Abreu | Venezuela | 1998 - 2018 | |
| Paul Ahyi | Ivory Coast | 2009 - 2010 | |
| Virgilijus Alekna | Lithuania | 2007 - 2020 | |
| Alicia Alonso | Cuba | 2002 - 2019 | |
| Patrick Baudry | France | 1999 - 2020 | |
| Pierre Bergé | France | 1992 - 2017 | |
| Montserrat Caballé | Spain | 1994 - 2018 | |
| Pierre Cardin | France | 1991 - 2020 | |
| Maha al-Khalil Chalabi | Lebanon | 2016 - 2022 | Heritage protection and preservation in Tyre |
| Marin Constantin | Romania | 1992–2011 | |
| Esther Coopersmith | United States | 2009–2024 | |
| Cheick Modibo Diarra | Mali | 1998 - 2020 | |
| Miguel Angel Estrella | Argentina | 1989 - 2022 | Promotion of Culture of Peace and tolerance through music |
| Juan Diego Florez | Peru | 2012 - 2020 | |
| Sheikh Ghassan I. Shaker | Oman | 1989–2011 | |
| Ivry Gitlis | Israel | 1998 - 2020 | |
| Christine Hakim | Indonesia | 2008 - 2020 | |
| Ikuo Hirayama | Japan | 1989–2009 | |
| S. Exc. M. Mwai Kibaki | Kenya | 2005 - 2022 | For Water in Africa |
| Lily Marinho | Brazil | 1999–2011 | |
| Rabah Madjer | Algeria | 2011 - 2020 | |
| Nelson Mandela | South Africa | 2005 - 2013 | |
| Rigoberta Menchú Tum | Guatemala | 1996 - 2020 | |
| Yehudi Menuhin | Switzerland United Kingdom | 1992–1999 | |
| Cristina Owen-Jones | Italy | 2004 - 2020 | |
| Renzo Piano | Italy | ........ - 2014 | |
| Samuel Pisar | United States | ........ - 2015 | |
| Ivo Pogorelić | Croatia Serbia | 1988–2009 | |
| Mstislav Rostropovich | Russia | 1998–2007 | |
| Yazid Sabeg | France | 2010 - 2020 | |
| Serik Sapiyev | Kazakhstan | 2013 - 2020 | |
| Giancarlo Elia Valori | Italy | 2001 - 2022 | Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage |