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UNESCO mourns loss of art patron and Goodwill Ambassador Lily Marinho

UNESCO mourns loss of art patron and Goodwill Ambassador Lily Marinho

Goodwill Ambassador Lily Marinho (left) with then UNESCO chief Koïchiro Matsuura on 14 June 2005
The Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today voiced sadness at the death of Goodwill Ambassador and patron of the arts Lily Marinho, who died on Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro.

Ms. Marinho, 89, was the widow of Brazilian press magnate and founder of the Globo group, Roberto Marinho, and had been nominated as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for peace and non-violence in 1999.

“Lily Marinho was deeply committed to education and culture, working to bring closer together people of all ages, nationalities and social backgrounds,” said UNESCO chief Irina Bokova.

“Our Organization has lost a long-standing ally and a very close friend,” she added.

Ms. Marinho always defended the rights of street children and offered financial support to provide those in the greatest need with somewhere to live, with medical care, food and schooling, according to a news release issued by UNESCO.

An art-lover, she also provided financial support for many art exhibitions and theatre productions, the agency added, noting that it was thanks to her that several major exhibitions in Brazil were made possible, including those of Rodin, Picasso, Camille Claudel and Monet.