Queen Máxima at the World Economic Forum in Davos

Queen Rania’s Entreaty for the Palestinian People at the World Economic Forum

Whilst Queen Rania of Jordan attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this past week, she elucidated the audience with the plight of the Palestinians torn with political and economic turmoil, and said: “This week, Gaza was plunged into further darkness and despair. Gaza’s children are crying out for heat, light, food, safety, medical care, and most of all peace. Already, they have lived through more horror, fear, and heartbreak than we can possibly imagine. Broken promises will not help them.”

Using a schematic of statistics, the queen reminded the prestigious guests about the educational losses for girls and mothers still dying in childbirth. Rania entreated the assembly to galvanize into action and declared: “It is time to move from promise to performance. It is an emergency. It is unfolding all around us. And it needs our attention right now.”

Resolute in finding a peaceful solution, the king and queen of Jordan desire to rectify the grave situation in Gaza. A few days before coming to the WEF, the queen visited some patients from Gaza that had come to the King Hussein Medical Center for treatment under the Royal ‘makruma’ of King Abdullah II. As Rania’s compassion for Gaza’s civilians poured forth, she said: “We all sympathize with our people in Gaza, and we need to use our sadness as an impetus for change…the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip is heartbreaking. People there are being deprived of so many of the necessities that we take for granted…and I fear that this situation can get worse. We need to mobilize, and coordinate our efforts to collect aid to send to Gaza.”

Besides addressing the adversities of the Palestinian people at the WEF, Queen Rania inaugurated
“Empowering One Million Arab Youth by 2018.” The program was initiated by INJAZ al-Arab and Rania is the regional ambassador. The INJAZ is “a confederation of national operations working with 10,000 corporate volunteers to train Arab students through exciting hands-on programs in work readiness, in partnership with ministries of education.” The objective for the initiative is “to support the work readiness skills of high school students across the Arab world.” The queen also partook of other sessions offered at the WEF including “Girls Count” and "Corporate Global Citizenship in the 21st Century."

Photos: REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay (SWITZERLAND), Associated Press/Peter Dejong, Associated Press/Nasser Ayoub, Jordan Royal Palace, HO, Associated Press/Freud Communications, Ursula Meisser, Associated Press/Michel Euler

Queen Rania of Jordan Celebrates Her 37th Birthday

Today, Queen Rania of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan celebrates her 37th birthday. The elegant Rania Al-Yassin was born on August 31, 1970 in Kuwait, Lebanon. She and Abdullah, son of King Hussein and Princess Muna, were married on June 10, 1993. The couple's four children are Prince Hussein, Princess Iman, Princess Salma and Prince Hashem.

Rania is a dedicated leader devoted to many causes in Jordan and internationally.Some notable contributions include her work with UNICEF's Global Leadership Initiative for Children, World Economic Forum Foundation Board, WHO Patron for Violence Prevention in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Global Ambassador for Women for Women International, United Nations Foundation Board of Directors, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, FINCA, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region ambassador of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, International Youth Foundation, Jordan Education Society and the Jordan River Foundation. In January 2007, she was named UNICEF's first Eminent Advocate for Children.

By royal degree, Queen Rania holds the honorary rank of colonel in the Jordanian Armed Forces. She was conferred this honor in June 2004.

Rania summed up her role as queen to the Jordanian people in the following quote."Many people are awestruck by the title of “Queen”, but for me, it is a job that incorporates several roles. Primarily, my duty is to partner His Majesty in his efforts to improve the standard of living of all Jordanians. While respecting our traditions, we are determined to build Jordan into a modern civil society and model for the region by ensuring sustainable levels of economic growth and social development. In addition, I work in areas related to child protection and family safety, women’s empowerment, the creation of opportunities for youth, and culture and tourism. Daunting? Yes. Impossible? No. In fact, such challenges energize me."

For more information on her initiatives, interviews and speeches, visit Queen Rania's official website.

Photo: Petra