In July 2001, Director General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura designated Princess Lalla Meryem as Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO in recognition of her tireless work in favour of children’s cause and respect for their rights in the world. During an official visit to Lebanon the same year, she was decorated by Lebanese President Emile Lahoud with the Wissam of Great Gordon of National Merit and received from Bahia Hariri the Golden medal of the Hariri Foundation, an award given to renowned personalities in various fields.