UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
In 2012, Sir David was honoured by UNESCO as a Goodwill Ambassador for his work in the pursuit of peace, education and culture amongst nations. In his role as Goodwill Ambassador, Sir David spreads the ideals of UNESCO through his position as a world-renowned scholar, collector and philanthropist. He helps galvanize public interest and support for the purposes and principles of UNESCO to significant audiences, including decision makers.
He has addressed high-level dignitaries, politicians, civil society leaders and religious authority figures at a number of UNESCO events and on a range of themes including, ‘The role of interfaith harmony in the rapprochement of cultures and nations’; ‘The importance of fostering and strengthening intercultural dialogue and understanding at the international, regional and national levels’; and ‘How does culture drive and enable social cohesion and inclusion’.
Sir David’s many keynote addresses as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador include:
- the launch of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013 – 2022)
- the UNESCO International Forum in Kazakhstan
- the UNESCO International Congress in China
- the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Saudi Arabia to mark the launch of the UNESCO forum on Building Knowledge Societies for Sustainable Human Development
- Intercultural Dialogue in Fragmented Societies at the UNESCO headquarters
- Arab-Mediterranean Cultural Conference in Palermo, Sicily