Working meetings in Geneva

The Crown Princess is meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
Crown Princess Mette-Marit has served as a Special Representative for UNAIDS since April 2006.

Challenges to humanitarian efforts

On Monday morning the Crown Princess was received by President of the ICRC Dr Jakob Kellenberger . She attended a presentation on the ICRC and the major challenges the organisation is facing in its humanitarian efforts. One of these is the lack of access to political prisoners and refugees. Another involves creating secure conditions for vulnerable groups, women, children and elderly people fleeing from or affected by disasters. After the presentation the Crown Princess received a guided tour of the ICRC museum.

Ambassador Bente Angell-Hansen hosted a working lunch on the theme of gender and health-related challenges to humanitarian efforts.

The refugee situation

At UNHCR the Crown Princess was received by Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The meeting focused on global trends in the field of refugee protection and migration. The UN High Commissioner recounted his experiences from his most recent visit to Yemen and also spoke of the difficult situation in Somalia. The Crown Princess was shown the UNHCR’s Emergency Room, which is currently being used to follow the situation in Côte d'Ivoire. Preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS is a key component of humanitarian activities in Côte d'Ivoire.

Vision of an AIDS-free generation

The Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Michel Kazatchkine, received the Crown Princess at the Global Fund’s headquarters. The focus of the meeting was the Fund’s strategy for and vision of a new Aids-free generation – efforts that are particularly targeted towards young people and women.

Working dinner

The first day of the two-day visit concluded with a working dinner devoted to the theme of global health problems with a focus on HIV/AIDS. Dr Margareth Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), was also present.

Working visit to UNAIDS

On Tuesday the Crown Princess visits the new headquarters of UNAIDS in Geneva for the first time. She will once again meet Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé , who took part at the AIDS conference organised by the Crown Princess in Norway in 2008 .

The purpose of the meeting is to provide an up-to-date briefing on the global HIV/AIDS situation. Young people and youth leadership will be key topics. Crown Princess Mette-Marit will report on the recently concluded Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.