Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen handed Princess Lalla Meryem credentials designating her the first OIC Goodwill Ambassador, during his meeting with Princess Lalla Meryem on the sidelines of the international woman day celebration on 8th March 2018 in Marrakesh, Kingdom of Morocco. The Secretary General underlined that Princess Lalla Meryem has a substantial part to take in furthering the ideals and aims of the OIC and its Member States in the area of women empowerment and preserving family and marriage as well as supporting OIC endeavors in these domains. Speaking at the designation ceremony of Princess Lalla Meryem as Goodwill Ambassador of the OIC, in the Moroccan capital of Rabat, on 8 March 2018, on the International Women's Day, Dr. Al-Othaimeen said that Princess Lalla Meryem's main mission will be to advocate women empowerment, promote family and marriage preservation and counter girls' early marriage. Designating Princess Lalla Meryem OIC Goodwill Ambassador befits the deservedly earned respect she has in various spheres, Dr. Al-Othaimeen pointed out, adding that it comes in recognition of her societal efforts and her global vision regarding women empowerment, family and child welfare. The Secretary General went on, "the Princess's efforts will constitute a substantial contribution to the work being done by the Organization. Women empowerment and child promotion, in the Maghreb and the greater Arab world, are not new issues to Her Highness." Dr. Al-Othaimeen quoted Princess Lalla Meryem saying in this connection, "What matters most is not the world we bequeath to our children, but the children we leave to this world." For the record, the designation of Princess Lalla Meryem Goodwill Ambassador of the OIC, with the special mission to help promote women empowerment, advocate the values of family and marriage, and combat early marriage of girls, was by virtue of a resolution of the 43rd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (Tashkent, Uzbekistan, October 2016).
