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Queens of Belgium and Spain attend inaugural session of the XII edition of the “European Development Days”

Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Queen Letizia of Spain attended the inaugural session of the XII edition of the “European Development Days 2018” on Tuesday in Brussels, Belgium. This forum is the largest in Europe for international cooperation and development. Additionally, its primary theme focuses on gender equality and the empowerment participation of females in sustainable development.

Before attending the initial session, Ther Majesties met privately at the Castle of Laeken – the official home of the King and Royal Family of Belgium. They then moved on to the conference where they, accompanied by attending heads of state and government, sat in the front while the session began.

After an opening speech by President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, both Queen Letizia and Queen Mathilde gave remarks. In the Queen of the Belgian’s speech, she focused on gender equality and stated, “The battle for equal opportunities between men and women and the protection of vulnerable people deserves to be continued and pushed up.” She added that there is a “growing awareness of the role of African women in mediation as a means of prevention or peaceful resolution of conflicts.”

© Casa de S.M. el Rey

During the Queen of Spain’s turn on the stage, Letizia told those assembled that “…Europe is essential in the social policies that set the course for cooperation, it is the transversal equity approach, as stated by the United Nations and the European Commission itself, which structures the development of capacities that Every human being deserves: the opportunity to educate themselves, to access health services, to move freely and safely, to feed themselves with quality. Combating gender inequality combined with poverty is a complex task that concerns the public sphere.”

© Casa de S.M. el Rey

Later, there was a musical performance by Grammy-nominated Angelique Kidjo before Jaha Mapenzi Dukureh, from the Gambia, spoke, as well. An informal lunch was next with Queen Letizia meeting Young Leaders of Development, as well as visiting different stands to see the projects being developed by different global agencies.

Afterwards, Letizia and Mathilde attended the opening of the debate on “Women and girls with disabilities” that was organised by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development.

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.