To my mother, the Princess Grace of Monaco, who founded AMADE in 1963, children were a priority just as was the need for swift action aimed at helping the most vulnerable among them.

In my capacity as President of AMADE since 1993, I am pleased to see that these principles have been given a new impetus by all who are truly concerned with the welfare of the world's children.

Over its many years of existence, AMADE has shown proof of its ability to meet new challenges posed by the terrible condition of a growing number of children confronted with poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, war, violence, disease, drugs or crime.

In seeking long-term impact, the humanitarian programmes operated by AMADE have also become part of a global effort towards sustainable development and self-sufficiency in developing countries, with education and vocational training being key elements in most of the projects implemented by the national offices of our organisation all over the world.

Our objective is to continue to initiate and support such projects, together with the crucial need to foster research in the field of ethics and legal issues pertinent to the rights of the child, particularly in the light of the many forms of mass violations of children's rights, from child trafficking to the use of children in armed conflicts and all occurrences of commercial sexual exploitation of children.

AMADE remains strongly committed to promoting the inalienable rights of the child as we believe there can be no other path to building an harmonious and prosperous society.

Today more than ever your contribution is crucial in order to help us continue our fight.

H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover
President of AMADE