PARIS.- UNESCO director-general Koïchiro Matsuura will designate the Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra UNESCO Artist for Peace during a ceremony on 15 September (6 p.m.) at the Organization’s Headquarters in Paris.

Guerra will receive this designation “in recognition of his efforts for the benefit of children with disabilities and children in need, and his dedication to the ideals and aims of the Organization.”

The song writer and performer is an internationally recognized merengue musician. His band, 4.40, is one of the most successful Caribbean popular music groups. It is the recipient of several Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards. He has lent his talent to several causes, namely the association La Ventana de los Cielos (Window to Heaven) and the foundation America Latina en Acción Solidaria.

Appointed for two years, Guerra will lend his support to UNESCO’s actions for youth violence prevention.

UNESCO Artists for Peace are internationally-renowned personalities who use their influence, charisma and prestige to help promote UNESCO’s message and programmes. Among them are musician Manu Dibango (Cameroon), actress Patricia Velasquez (Venezuela), musician Gilberto Gil (Brazil), dancer Miyako Yoshida (Japan), soprano Sumi Jo (South Korea), singer and founder of the musical group Gypsy Kings Chico Bouchikhi (France) and conductor Valery Gergiev (Russian Federation).