The United Nations Development System (SNUD) in Morocco has named Ghizlane Benjelloun the 2024 “UN Personality in Morocco,” a distinction announced on Thursday in Rabat to coincide with United Nations Day.
This accolade recognizes her unwavering commitment to advancing children’s mental health and advocating for their rights, as highlighted in a statement from the UN in Morocco.
The UN Personality designation, initiated this year, aims to celebrate civic engagement and highlight individuals whose efforts align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Nathalie Fustier, the UN Resident Coordinator in Morocco, praised Benjelloun’s passionate dedication to Moroccan youth, stating, “Today’s children are tomorrow’s actors, bearers of hope and change for a better future,” as quoted in a press release.
In her response to the honor, Benjelloun expressed gratitude, dedicating the recognition to all individuals advocating for children’s rights. She emphasized that the future of both children and society relies on prioritizing mental health in developmental initiatives.
The formal presentation of the certificate to Benjelloun will be conducted by Fustier alongside Eric Falt, Regional Director of the UNESCO Office for the Maghreb.
Benjelloun serves as the vice-president of the National Observatory for Children’s Rights (ONDE) and is a board member of the National Union of Moroccan Women
Additionally, she holds positions with the International Bureau for Children’s Rights and the European Association of Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, while actively contributing to “The Cause of Babies” — an international organization.
An accomplished academic, Benjelloun is also a member of the Scientific Council and Monitoring Committee of the Lalla Meryem Academic Chair for Women and Children at Mohammed V University in Rabat.
As a professor of child psychiatry and head of the child psychiatry department at Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca, her expertise spans both clinical and educational domains.
