I salute the memory of Claudia Cardinale, whose world-famous gaze also looked at the world with lucidity and generosity, she who chose UNESCO to support the education of girls and women.
Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General
Claudia Cardinale has long used her fame to support humanitarian causes. Born in Tunisia, an Italian national and educated in France, she embodies women's struggle for their rights, including through her Foundation, which works to defend women's rights and the environment.
Her commitment to UNESCO, since March 2000 as Goodwill Ambassador, was guided by her desire to improve the condition and standard of living of girls and women through education.
A unique and generous artist, she triumphed in some of the most illustrious films in cinema history, such as Luchino Visconti's The Leopard (1963), Federico Fellini's Eight and a Half (1963) and Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).
She was also the patron of numerous events organised by UNESCO, including the concert for peace 'Music for Dialogue and Reconciliation', held under the auspices of UNESCO at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice in 2009. She also contributed to the success of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the project 'The Slave Route: Resistance, Liberty, Heritage', organised at UNESCO Headquarters in 2014.
About UNESCO
With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions, with a global network of 200 National Commissions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.
"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed" - UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
