Queen Rania Wins North-South Prize

During her official visit to Portugal, Jordan’s Queen Rania received the Council of Europe’s North-South Prize. It was in recognition to her works to promote peace and understanding, and defend human rights.

The award was presented by the Portuguese head of state Anibal Cavaco Silva, in the presence of King Abdullah II of Jordan. Since 1995, the North-South Centre has awarded the prize – a statuette made of Portuguese marble with a base made from African wood – to two public figures, one from the north and the other from the south.

In an interview with daily ”Diario de Noticias”, Queen Rania expressed a wish that dialogue and negotiations to resolve the problems in the Middle East should resume.

She said that ”the situation for women has registered progress in many Arab countries, but there is still a long way to go. The greatest challenge today for Arab women is to change the mentality of men, and I can say that this is changing’.”

Further underlining the importance of promoting compassion, mutual respect and tolerance among nations, the Queen noted in her speech upon receiving the award, that “we are at the beginning of a new age of discovery, an era that sees us connecting openly and rediscovering ourselves and our neighbors”.

Since its inception in 1995, the North-South prize is awarded annually to two laureates, acknowledging their deep commitment and outstanding achievements in the field of human rights, defence of pluralistic democracy and North-South partnership and solidarity.