The Royal Family and with them all the Moroccan people celebrate, on Monday, the birthday of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, who has always demonstrated a constant and multifaceted commitment to the causes of women and children and to the promotion of the social affairs of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR). + A – A This happy event, celebrated on August 26 each year, offers Moroccans the opportunity to celebrate the tireless actions that Princess Lalla Meryem leads in favor of preserving the achievements of women and promoting the well-being of children, mainly those in difficult situations. From a very young age, Princess Lalla Meryem has held numerous positions in the social field, notably that of President of the social works of the Royal Armed Forces, a position to which Princess Lalla Meryem was appointed in 1981 by the late Hassan II. The action carried out by Princess Lalla Meryem in the field of social affairs of the FAR, and in favor of the defense of the rights of women and children, has led the King, Supreme Chief and Chief of General Staff of the FAR to decide, during the swearing-in ceremony of the officers of the promotions of 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, laureates of the Grandes Écoles and Military Institutes and paramilitaries as well as officers from the ranks, on the occasion of the celebration of the 24th anniversary of the accession of the Sovereign to the Throne, to give the four promotions released between 2020 and 2023 the name of “Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem”. Princess Lalla Meryem also chairs the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Living Abroad (MRE), the National Union of Moroccan Women (UNFM), the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child (ONDE) and the Moroccan Association of Support for Unicef. She is also honorary president of several associations working for the benefit of childhood. The exceptional career of Princess Lalla Meryem has always been highly praised internationally and has earned her the recognition of numerous leaders of institutions acting in favor of children’s rights. Thus, in July 2001, the Director General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, awarded Princess Lalla Meryem the title of goodwill ambassador of this UN organization, in recognition of her tireless action in favor of the cause of children and respect for their rights around the world. During an official visit to Lebanon during the same year, Princess Lalla Meryem was decorated by the Lebanese President, Emile Lahoud, with the Ouissam of the Grand Cordon of National Merit and received the gold medal from the Hariri Foundation, a distinction that the institution awards to renowned personalities in different fields. Likewise, in May 2010, she received the “Women Leaders World” Prize, an international distinction awarded by the “Women Leaders World” association to Princess Lalla Meryem in her capacity as president of the UNFM. This Prize, which puts the Kingdom of Morocco in the spotlight, was awarded to the Princess in recognition of her remarkable action, her keen sense of solidarity and her permanent mobilization to strengthen the status of Moroccan women, those of the Arab world and the African continent so that they get involved in strengthening development, harmony and access to progress. Princess Lalla Meryem has also engaged in various actions, presiding over official activities and also representing the King in important national and international events. Indeed, Princess Lalla Meryem presided, on April 26, at the headquarters of the General Staff of the FAR, in execution of the high instructions of King M ohammed VI, Supreme Leader and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, the Board of Directors of Social Works of the FAR. On February 24, Prince Moulay Rachid and Princess Lalla Meryem chaired, at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, the awards ceremony for the winners of the 48th edition of the Hassan II Trophy and the 27th edition of the Lalla Meryem Golf Cup, organized under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI. Furthermore, on the very instructions of the King, Princesses Lalla Meryem, Lalla Asmae and Lalla Hasnaa were received, on February 19, for lunch at the Elysée Palace, at the invitation of Madame Brigitte Macron. On November 25, 2023, Princess Lalla Meryem chaired, at the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat, the inauguration ceremony of the Charity Bazaar of the Diplomatic Circle, placed under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI. With diverse and diversified actions and activities, Princess Lalla Meryem demonstrates deep and unparalleled determination and commitment, which continue to inspire and make an entire people proud.
