Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) President HRH Princess Haya, Goodwill Ambassador to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), helped to open the 81st General Session of the World Assembly of OIE Delegates in Paris, France, on May 26. The event was attended by government representatives, animal health authority ministers, and chief veterinary officers from 178 countries.

HRH Princess Haya was appointed to serve as the World Organization for Animal Health’s first Goodwill Ambassador last September, to help raise worldwide awareness of its missions and activities.

After the inaugural address by OIE President Dr. Karin Schwabenbauer, HRH Princess Haya took the stand in a packed auditorium at the Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel and focused on the importance of taking innovative action and finding sustainable solutions to human and animal health issues.

“As a population, we need to be able to harness the products of the land and sea, but we need to be able to trade these products, too,” explained HRH Princess Haya. “In doing so, we must ensure that we are protected from the ravages of disease in both the human and animal populations. Whatever action is taken to feed our populations, and to keep them safe, must be sustainable—and that action must be taken together