On Friday 20 November 2015, on the occasion of the International Day of Children's Rights, HRH the Grand Duchess received in audience the 16 year-old Syrian Hanin Mahmud, along with her mother; Mr. Omar El Hattab of UNICEF Syria, and Ms. Maryse Arendt, President of UNICEF Luxembourg.
At the age of 13, following the bombing of their family home, the young Hanin fled Syria with her mother and older sister. After a two-year stay in Istanbul, in difficult circumstances, separated from her family, she continued her dangerous journey through Hungary to reach Austria, where she lived for a year.
With three other young refugees, Hanin Mahmoud was part of a Twitter campaign (#youthtakeover) which experienced extensive media resonance.
In April 2007, the Grand Duchess was named UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children, targeting among others her action in favour of children orphaned by AIDS and being forcibly conscripted into armed conflict as child soldiers.
Photo © 2015 Cour grand-ducale / tous droits réservés
