Closing Ceremony of the International Year of Cooperatives and World Food Day Observance

During the Closing Ceremony of the International Year of Cooperatives, 19 -20 November 2012, was observed the WFD.  This provided the opportunity for high visibility for WFD with the participation of Ms. Marcela Villarreal, Acting Director, Office for Communication, Partnerships and Advocacy, and Ms. Nora Ourabah Haddad, RIPE Team Leader and Technical Officer, Gender, Equity and Rural Employment Division, who took part in the Closing Ceremony. Ms Villarreal represented the Director General in the closing ceremony, and delivered a message on his behalf, as well as she participated in a press conference.  Ms. Ourabah Haddad participated in a panel discussion on Global Food Security and Cooperatives.  Additionally, the feature video on World Food Day, was played on two occasions during the closing ceremony.  Information material was widely distributed during both days as well as to member states and interlocutors in the wider UN community.