NEW YORK, 18 November 2003 – International and regional school children brought together at UNICEF headquarters for a Global Town Hall meeting challenged the three 2003 World of Children honorees on issues critical to children’s rights.  At the session, Mrs. Nane Annan, a lawyer, painter, children’s book author and wife of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, gave the keynote address and participated in the vibrant discussion.

Eighty students from the UN International School and regional schools dialogued with the World of Children honorees and Mrs. Annan regarding issues ranging from child slavery to the alarming rise of HIV/AIDS among youth worldwide.  The discussion was held in conjunction with the announcement of the recipients of the Sixth Annual World of Children Awards.  Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for child advocacy” the awards were bestowed as follows:

Fani Lerner, former first lady of Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, was presented with The Kellogg’s Child Development Award, a $100,000 award sponsored by the Kellogg Corporate Citizenship Fund, the founding sponsor and charitable arm of Kellogg Company.  This award recognizes those who have made extraordinary contributions to children by significantly improving their opportunities to learn and grow.   Ms. Lerner was honored for her leadership, which revolutionized social work in Brazil by creating 16 programs for needy children and adolescents, including initiatives to feed, shelter and educate homeless, orphaned, abandoned, physically disabled and mentally handicapped children.

Dr. Martin Eichelberger, founder and president of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and director of emergency trauma and burn services at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C, was awarded with The Cardinal Health Children’s Care Award, a prestigious $100,000 award sponsored by the Cardinal Health Foundation, the charitable arm of leading health care products and services provider, Cardinal Health.  This award recognizes an individual who has made a significant lifetime contribution to the health and well-being of children.  Dr. Eichelberger has contributed extensively to the field of pediatric trauma and injury control.

Ryan Hreljac, age 12, of Kemptville, Ontario, Canada, was awarded with The Founder’s Award, a $15,000 scholarship, recognizes a young person under age 21, who is making extraordinary contributions to other children.  Ryan founded the Ryan’s Well Foundation at age six and has raised nearly $800,000 since 1998 to build more than 70 wells that help provide fresh water and adequate sanitation in seven African countries.

 “Last year, world leaders pledged at the UN children’s summit to work toward ‘A world fit for children,” Mrs. Annan said.  “There is still a long way to go until every child can grow up free from fear and free from want.  In my travels around the world, I have met countless children who have told me in words, poems or drawings about their most unbearable situation, and yet they have found their way to a school, a kitchen or a caring family.  They stand in front of me, still with hope and trust in their eyes.  We must not let them down.” 

“Today we are honoring persons who keenly understand this, and the world is a richer and improved place when children’s rights and dignity are respected,” expressed Mrs. Annan.

Founder of the World of Children Awards, Harry Leibowitz, said “With these awards we hope to inspire more people to recognize that what really matters is making the world safer, healthier and more caring for children.  By providing these funds and recognition for those who make a critical difference, we seek to raise the voices of children around the world.”   

The World of Children Award finalists were selected from hundreds of global applicants.  The World of Children’s International Advisory Council, headed by boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a UN Messenger of Peace, chose the finalists.

Carlos Gutierrez, chairman and chief executive officer, Kellogg Company, said Ms. Lerner, recipient of the Kellogg’s Child Development Award “serves as an inspiration to all of us that we can do more to alleviate poverty and provide opportunities for the world’s most vulnerable children.”

Robert D. Walter, chairman and chief executive officer of Cardinal Health praised Dr. Eichelberger, recipient of the Cardinal Health Children’s Care Award, calling him “an exceptional individual whose efforts have touched the lives of thousands of children.”

The World of Children and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF are working to help bring attention to the plight of children around the world and to the children’s advocates who have significantly impacted the lives and well being of children. 

About UNICEF:  Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children in 158 countries through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation.  UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination.  In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority.  For more information about UNICEF or to make a donation, please visit www.unicefusa.org or call 1-800-4UNICEF.

World of Children, Inc. (WORLD OF CHILDREN) is a U.S. non-governmental organization located in Columbus, Ohio. Since 1998, the WORLD OF CHILDREN Awards program has recognized 37 honorees from 18 countries who have devoted their lives to making the world a better place for children, awarding more than $800,000 that has been reinvested in helping children.  WORLD OF CHILDREN seeks to identify individuals across the globe who have gone beyond the normal boundaries of their work to advance the rights and well being of children.  By honoring children’s advocates, WORLD OF CHILDREN hopes to bring them, their work and their organizations to the forefront of international acclaim and attention.

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B-roll is available.  For further information, please contact:

Kate Donovan, 212-326-7452

SAN SALVADOR, 7 November 2003 -  Journalists from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, México, Nicaragua and the United States are the winners of the 2003 Iberoamerican Communication Awards for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, an internacional jury announced here today.

The awards are given every two years by UNICEF, the Spanish news agency EFE and the Santillana Foundation for Iberoamerica.  The prizes are given to broadcast and print journalists for outstanding work that raises awareness about the plight of children facing poverty, discrimination and violence in Latin America, Spain and Portugal.

“We were very impressed by the quality of the nearly 800 entries submitted this year from more than 20 countries,” said Miguel Ángel Gozalo, President of the international jury as well as of the EFE news agency.  He added that “it is exciting in this era of superficial entertainment and consumerism to see so many journalists dealing seriously with the most vulnerable members of our societies, our children and young people.”

Former Colombian President Belisario Betancur, who coordinates the jury, sent a message from Spain stating that “by looking into the mirrors of childhood, we are planting the seeds of peace, love, dignity and justice.”

The jury – also composed of Alfredo Missair, UNICEF’s Deputy Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean; Maria Clara Betancur, representantive of the Santillana Foundation and Ricardo García, from UNICEF’s Spanish Nacional Committee – announced winners in the following categories:

The Grand Prize went to two communicators working for the U.S. Spanish-language TV network Univisión: Amalia Torres of Colombia and Mariano García of El Salvador, for their series entitled “Orphans of the Guerrilla War in Colombia”, a dramatic account of the devastating impact of war on children’s lives. This is the first time since the prizes began – in 1998 – that hispanic journalists in the United Status have received the prestigious award. 

The other winners are: 

- Print media: Lucio de Castro for his article “Nos Poroes do Futebol” (The Sewers of Soccer), published in the Jornal O Globo, Brazil –  original investigative journalism uncovering the exploitation of boys seeking careers in the region’s most popular sport, soccer. 

- Radio: Julio Alberto Paz for a series of programs entitled “La basura en los ojos…la esperanza entre los dedos” (Garbage in their eyes…hope in their hands), aired on Radio UTN, Argentina – moving accounts of the lives of children working in garbage dumps in the province of Mendoza, and of a group of young people who volunteer to help them.  

- Television: Heysel del Sagrario Garay for the program “Tan Solo Una Oportunidad” (Just a chance), broadcast by Telenica, Canal 8, Nicaragua – the story of former gang members and a Project empowering them to change their lives, a welcome alternative to repression as a response to violence and crime. 

- Media for children and adolescents: Marta Acevedo and her team, for “Un, dos, tres: por mí y por todos mis compañeros”, a children’s magazine published by    “La Jornada”, México – a high quality magazine with a multi-cultural, educational, human rights approach, produced with the participation of children.
 
- Photography and design:  Jaime Pérez Munévar, for his photo “Desplazamiento Forzado” (Forced Displacement), published in  “El Colombiano”, Colombia – a moving image of the country’s new “nomads”, hundreds of thousands of children and women displaced from their homes and communities by armed conflict.
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The jury also awarded three Special Mentions:

- to “Cienpiés” of México, a longstanding children’s journalism project;
- to the Brazilian newspaper O Povo, for involving its entire staff in an innovative series of articles about young people’s attitudes toward politics;
- to the Diario de Hoy newspaper, El Salvador, for high quality entries in  several categories submitted to the contest. 

Ricardo García of the UNICEF Spanish Nacional Committee stressed the fact that a network of journalists committed to children’s rights is coming together around the awards process, with a real potential to influence public policies and public attitudes.

The winners will receive their awards of  $2,000 to $3,000 in Lima, Peru, on 20 November, at a gala event featuring the Grammy award-winning Peruvian singer Susana Baca, among others.  All winners will also receive a sculpture designed especially for the Iberoamerican Communication Awards by the late Ecuadorian artist, Oswaldo Guayasamín.

Jury member Alfredo Missair of UNICEF commented on the depth and seriousness of the entries submitted this year, noting the many articles, photographs and programs dealing with such priority issues as the poverty and exclusión faced by indigenous children, as well as the growing violence affecting young people in the region.

The jury announced that they have invited ANDI, a Brazilian news agency dealing with media and children’s rights, to become a co-organizer of the awards.  An ANDI study on media coverage of children’s issues will be launched during the awards ceremony in Lima. 

The Iberoamerican Communication Awards on Children’s Rights are sponsored by the Central American airline TACA and the Spanish Fundación Telefónica and its Latin American affiliates.

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For more information contact:

Robert Cohen, UNICEF
rcohen@unicef.org
Tel. 507- 676 32 16

Carmen Vergara, UNICEF
cgvergara@unicef.org
Tel 503- 887 26 28

Fernando Ruiz, ACAN-EFE
fruiz@acan-efe.com
Tel. 507- 269 31 37

BALI, 6 May 2003 - UNICEF today announced the winners of the inaugural UNICEF Award for Youth Leadership in East Asia and the Pacific.

The Award was presented to three youths from Indonesia, the host country of the conference. They have contributed to promoting or advancing child rights in their country. Sixteen children were nominated by NGO’s and Government agencies.

The Award is an important acknowledgement of efforts that many children make every day for their country and their fellow children.

The winners were named at the Sixth Asia and Pacific Ministerial Consultation on Children being held in Bali.

They are:

• Desi Gloria Arwam (DESY), a 14 year old junior high school student from Papua, is active in her community raising awareness of child rights. She lives in a village near Jayapura where her father is a teacher. She was a child ambassador at the “World Vision Anniversary” in Jakarta in 2000. In 2001, she was moderator for the “Forum of the Papuan Children”. In 2002, Desy was resource person for Children’s Week and a participant in the “Children Study Tour” to celebrate National Children’s Day.
• Rosadi Mulya (ROS) from Bandung in West Java is a 14 year old child labor activitist. Ros used to work fulltime in a shoe factory with his father for 10,000 rupiah. a week ($1.15US). He became involved with the ILO’s International Project for the Elimination of Child Labor in 2001. From a poor family, Ros still needs to work occasionally in the factory to help support his family. Ros is involved in an outreach organization, Sanggar Kreativitas Anak Sidikara (Sidikara Children’s Creative Workshop) where he played a lead role last year in a movie project on child labor funded by Microsoft Indonesia. Ros has participated in Information & Technology training. He came third in a National Prayer’s Call competition for 4th grade school children.
• Yunaidy Soventy Tuka (VENTY) from East Nusa Tenggara is a 15 year old junior high school student who was inspired by child rights’ literature she found at her school. Today she is actively involved in the children’s group which publishes a children’s magazine promoting child rights. Since 2001, she has also been the chairperson of two children’s groups coordinating Child Rights advocacy in Oesao village. Venty was a participant in the Third Indonesian National Children’s Congress.

In presenting the Awards, the Executive Director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy said they are a reminder of what can be achieved if children are enlisted to help UNICEF and the Governments of the Region.

“While we can look at the big picture, it is young people like Venty, Ros and Desy who can make it happen in their communities.”

She said: “I hope the Awards will grow in stature in the region and that governments will recognize that children can and should participate in decisions which affect their lives.”

The Ministerial Consultation, hosted by the Government of Indonesia, drew together nearly 250 participants from 25 countries. Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri officially opened it Monday.
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Note to Editors:

Media opportunities during the meeting include a pledge signing ceremony where delegates will sign a statement drawn up by the child delegates to the meeting, the Youth Leadership Awards, and a closing day press conference featuring the UNICEF Executive Director, the Indonesian Minister of Health, and the UNICEF Regional Director.

On May 6, UNICEF will release two publications. “Towards a Region Fit for Children” and “A Future for all our Children” look at the challenges facing children in the region, with the latest facts and figures. A press release will be issued.

On May 7, delegates will adopt the “Bali Consensus”, which contains the development agenda for the region’s children in the coming years. The official adoption of the Bali Consensus will be announced at a press conference on the 7th. . A press release will be issued.

A Video News Release (VNR) containing highlights of the meeting will be downloadable from the APTN video news wire. Feed times are: 17:15 – 17:30 GMT Wednesday 7 May and 03:45 - 04:00 GMT Thursday 8 May. The VNR will include a variety of pictures from the 3-day meeting, with key soundbites from those attending and UNICEF pictures which illustrate the topics under discussion.

* * *

For more information, please contact:

John Budd, UNICEF Media, Tel: (0811) 936 437
Patrick McCormick, UNICEF Media, Tel: (661) 906-0813
Kendartanti Subroto, UNICEF Media, Tel: (0815) 883 0800

NEW YORK, BANGKOK, 15 September 2003 -  At a ceremony today at UNICEF’S New York Headquarters, former Prime Minister of Thailand, Anand Panyarachun, received an award honouring his years of service to the children of Thailand.  UNICEF presented the award to Panyarachun at its Executive Board meeting.

On the occasion, UNICEF Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, described Panyarachun as an “outstanding statesman” and an example to the world as a true champion of children.

“On behalf of children not only in Thailand but around the world, UNICEF is proud to honour Khun Anand, a man who has devoted his life to improving the world for all, and to fighting for the rights of children to live in peace, good health and dignity,” she said.

Panyarachun is credited with changing the direction of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Thailand, making the country a leader in this fight in the world.  Thailand offers the best example of a national response to fighting the disease. Without Mr. Anand’s leadership, Thailand would be looking at 10 million HIV infections by 2010; current estimates now are at 1 million.

Panyarachun was appointed UNICEF Ambassador for Thailand on 17 January, 1996.  Since then he has been an outstanding advocate for children, speaking on child rights issues, child abuse, HIV/AIDS and education reform.  He has been actively involved in fund raising bringing in more than US $10 million.

Accepting the award, Panyarachun said that he appreciated the recognition from UNICEF and looked forward to “many more years of working together to make our world fit for children.”

Khun Anand Panyarachun served twice as Prime Minister of Thailand.  He chaired the Constitution drafting committee, which was a cornerstone in the develpment of Thailand’s democracy; he was recognized as a leader in educational and environmental reforms and good governance.

Key facts and figures:

• Fewer than one in four people at risk of infection are able to obtain basic information regarding HIV/AIDS;
• Only one in nine people seeking to know their HIV serostatus have access to voluntary counselling and testing services
•  Less than one in 20 pregnant women presenting for antenatal care are able to access services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus;
• Less than 5 per cent of those who could benefit from anti-retroviral treatment are currently able to access such treatment;
• In the majority of countries where the sharing of equipment among injecting drug users is a major mode of HIV transmission, coverage for prevention and treatment programmes for drug users is under 5 per cent.
• Women and girls now represent one half of all cases of HIV infection globally and as many as 58 per cent in Africa.
• Globally, more than 14 million children under the age of 16 have lost one or bother parents to HIV/AIDS, including 11 million in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Yet 39 per cent of reporting States with generalized epidemics lack national strategies for children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

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For more information:

Liza Barrie, Senior Communications Adviser,
HIV/AIDS (212) 326-7593, lbarrie@unicef.org

Marixie Mercado, Communications Officer,
HIV/AIDS (212) 326-7133, mmercado@unicef.org

Patrick McCormick, East Asia and Pacific Office in Bangkok
Tel: (662)356-9407 Mobile: (661) 906 0813

Website wins People’s Voice Award in non-profit category

NEW YORK, 10 May 2006 - The Webby Awards, the leading international honour for Web sites, Tuesday named UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children 2006 website the People’s Voice Award winner for non-profit web sites of 2006.  Winners will be honoured at The Tenth Annual Webby Awards in New York City on 12 June.

Tiffany Shlain, founder and ambassador of The Webby Awards, said the winning UNICEF website “is a testament to the skill, ingenuity and vision of its creators.”

The Webby Awards present two honours in each category: The Webby Award and The People’s Voice Award.  While members of The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences select the nominees for both awards, the online community determines the winners of The People’s Voice Awards by voting for the sites thought to be best in each category. People’s Voice Awards garnered over 200,000 unique votes from all over the world.

“This Webby Award reflects the commitment and dedication of the men and women of UNICEF who work on behalf of the world’s children,” said Stephen Cassidy, Chief of UNICEF’s Internet, Broadcast and Image Section.  “We’d like to thank everyone at UNICEF who contributed to this fantastic effort, and all of our online supporters worldwide.”

The website can be seen at www.unicef.org/sowc06/index.php.

The Tenth Annual Webby Awards received a record number of entries from over 40 countries and all 50 states.

Founded in 1996, The Webby Awards are known worldwide for its famous five-words-or-less acceptance speeches.

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About SOWC 2006: The 2006 State of the World’s Children report focuses on excluded and invisible children who have no access to essential services, protection and participation.  The State of the World’s Children is UNICEF’s annual flagship publication.  It is the most comprehensive survey of global trends affecting children.  In addition to analysis of major issues, it provides a complete almanac of up-to-date statistical data on children.

About UNICEF: For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 155 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

About The Webby Awards: Called the ‘Oscars of the Internet’ by the New York Times, the Webby is the leading international award honouring excellence in Web design, creativity, usability and functionality. Established in 1996, the 10th Annual Webby Awards received over 5,500 entries from all 50 states and over 40 countries worldwide.  The Webby Awards are presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.  Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: AOL; The Creative Group; Verizon; Adweek, Brandweek and Mediaweek magazines; Fortune; OnRequest Images; IDG; iStockphoto; American Marketing Association; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced Studios; MX Interactive and Museum of the Moving Image. For more information visit www.webbyawards.com.

Key dates:  Webby Award and People’s Voice Award Winners will be announced on 9 May 9 2006.  Winners will be honoured at The 10th Annual Webby Awards on 12 June 2006 in New York City at Cipriani Wall Street.

Key facts: Webby Awards are handed out in 63 categories including Activism, Best Practices, Blog, Employment, Fashion, Film, Finance, Health, Humor, Politics, Retail, Spirituality, Travel, TV and Weird. The 10th Annual Webby Awards received over 5,500 entries from all 50 states and over 40 countries worldwide.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya Turkovich, +212-326-7745, tturkovich@unicef.org

NEW YORK, 13 September 2006 - UNICEF expressed appreciation today to Spain’s Prince of Asturias Foundation for giving the children’s agency the prestigious 2006 Prince of Asturias Award for Concord.

The citation of the award, announced Wednesday, noted that UNICEF’s contribution to “improving the health and living conditions of millions of children worldwide, focusing especially on the needs of the most impoverished areas of the world, such as the African continent, where wars, famine, AIDS and the dearth of education, amongst other serious problems, are the biggest hindrances to child development.”

“UNICEF is honoured to receive this award,” UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said Wednesday.  “We are grateful to the Prince of Asturias Foundation for recognizing UNICEF’s work on behalf of children, and for bringing greater attention to the needs of the world’s children.”

The Prince of Asturias Award for Concord is “bestowed upon the person, persons or institution whose work has made an exemplary and outstanding contribution to mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence amongst men, to the struggle against injustice, poverty, disease or ignorance, to the defence of freedom, or whose work has widened the horizons of knowledge or has been outstanding in protecting and preserving mankind’s heritage”.

Other winners of the 2006 awards include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (International Cooperation), National Geographic (Communication and Humanities); Pedro Almodovar (Arts); Mary Robinson (Social Sciences); the Spanish National basketball team (Sports); Juan Ignacio Cirac (Technical and Scientific Research) and Paul Auster (Literary).

Past winners award, now in its 26th year, include Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (2005); Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said (2002); Cáritas Española, (1999).

The presentation ceremony will take place October 20 in Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias.  The solemn academic ceremony will be presided over by the heir to the throne of Spain, HRH Prince of Asturias, D. Felipe de Borbón y Grecia in the presence of the King and Queen of Spain.  

 “On behalf of children living in poverty, children who are not able to go to school, children affected by AIDS,  UNICEF thanks the Prince of Asturias Foundation for this recognition,” said Veneman.  “It is also a testament to the Spanish royal family’s extraordinary commitment to children.”

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About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For more information, please contact:

Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media, Tel:  212 326 7452, e-mail:  kdonovan@unicef.org

MEXICO CITY, 2 November 2006 - UNICEF Guatemala, along with Guatemalan TV broadcasting channels three & seven, the Ministry of Education and the advertising agency Publicentro Lowe & Partners, received the maximum “Caracol de Plata” award, in the category of social campaigns.

This years award has been granted to the Becaton Campaign, which visualizes education as a contest in which everyone must participate and strive to reach the goal.  It was also conceived as an initiative to sensitize people on the importance of primary education, as well as a fundraising effort to finance school grants for children living in extreme poverty and victims of Hurricane Stan.

The Caracol de Plata, a non profit organization, promotes civic culture through social responsibility and participation.  Annually, it gives recognition to the best social messages developed in Ibero America.  This year´s edition included over 300 materials from 20 countries.

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About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For further information, please contact:

Parisa Nabili, Communications Officer, UNICEF Guatemala: pnabili@unicef.org

BEIJING, November 7, 2006 - Kansai Telecasting Corporation of Japan was named today the winner of the ABU CASBAA UNICEF Child Rights Award 2006 for its documentary entitled “Conquering the Darkness - The Fight Against Memories of Abuse.”

At a presentation ceremony held during the ABU General Assembly, Shinichi Sugimoto, the producer of the documentary, was praised for the film’s powerful, engaging and sensitive treatment of an issue often hidden from the public eye.  The documentary follows Aya, a 33 year old mother, who suffered abuse as a child and subsequently abused her own children.  It is the tale of a parent’s personal struggle to end the cycle of child abuse in the family.

“We are often quick to point the finger at parents who abuse their children, but patterns of abuse so often begin in childhood, creating a chain that can continue over generations,” said Sugimoto.  “I am greatly honoured that our documentary has been selected for the Child Right’s Award. I also would like to urge the media to help us realize our quest for a society free of abuse, prejudice and persecution.”

The Child Rights Award, established in 2001, is given each year in recognition of the best television programming on a child rights issue produced in the Asia-Pacific region. It recognizes the efforts of broadcasters in pursuing both the production of top quality children’s programmes and better news coverage of children’s issues.  This year, the Child Rights Award received a total of 40 entries from countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Japan, Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Singapore.

David Astley, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, said,  “the Child Rights Award is a significant platform that allows broadcasters in the Asia- Pacific to demonstrate their ability to produce quality programming on children’s issues.  The ABU wants to encourage broadcasters to continue to invest in such programmes in the future. ”

The winning entry was selected by a panel of jurors made up of distinguished television producers and industry representatives including: Amar Keshar Simha, an independent producer from Pakistan; Wang Yan, a producer with China Central Television (CCTV); Ariunjargal Luvsantseren, Director of Children’s Programme for Mongolian Radio and Television; Francis Smith, Executive Producer of Infocus Asia; Ian Carroll, Chief Executive of Australia Network; and James Gibbons, Vice President of Programming, Discovery Networks Asia.

Simon Twiston Davies, CEO of the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) said, “the continued participation of regional broadcasters in the Child Rights Award is welcome and clearly underlines their resolve towards producing educational and entertaining programmes for and about children.”

Madeline Eisner, UNICEF Regional Communication Advisor for East Asia and the Pacific Office said, “this year’s entries continue to illustrate the great influence television wields to command the attention of viewers regarding issues affecting children and comes at a timely moment with the just released UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children.”

The top ten finalists in 2006 are:

WINNER
Conquering the Darkness - The Fight Against Memories of Abuse (Japan)
Producer: Shinichi Sugimoto
Production Company: Kansai Telecasting Corporation
In Japan, every three days a child dies from abuse. It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of parents who abuse their children were themselves abused in childhood. These parents have been psychologically damaged by the trauma they have experienced. The documentary takes a close look at Aya, a 33-year-old mother who was abused as a child and who subsequently abused her own children. This documentary is the result of a year-long reportage on the struggle by Aya and her three sons to overcome the cycle of child abuse.

FINALISTS
Dark Street Kids (Malaysia)
Producer: Nawar Hani Kamaruddin
Production Company: Radio Television Malaysia
This documentary tells the story of children who are born and live in dark alleys or brothels of Malaysia. It chronicles the hardship, as well as the stigma and discrimination, they face being the children of commercial sex workers.

Korean Children - I am All Alone  (Korea)
Producer: Kim Kyung Eun
Production company: Production Purume
Minho is an 11 year old boy neglected by his parents. His only friend is a TV set. He lives on frozen yoghurt. He is also addicted to computer games. A stark portrayal of how a child is deeply affected by the problems and negligence of his parents.

Tuesday Report: Pocket Money (Hong Kong)
Producer: Wong Yuk Kuen
Production company:  Television Broadcasting Limited
Although Hong Kong is regarded as rich city, nearly 30 per cent of children live below the poverty line. This programme documents the life of three children who live in cramped flats and have to sell scrap paper and scrap metal for their pocket money.

Young People on Wheels (Bhutan)
Producer: Dechen Roder
Production company: Bhutan Broadcasting Services Corp (BBSC)
The documentary follows a group of unemployed youths who are creating awareness of a campaign on HIV and AIDS in Bhutan.

The Orphans, Childless & Predators (Singapore)
Producer: Ong Hee Yah
Production company: MediaCorp News Ptd Ltd
On a single day in December 2004, tens of thousands of children lost their parents when the Indian Ocean tsunami struck. The documentary looks at on how orphaned children coped with the devastating experience. It also features a child trafficker who agreed to tell his side of story and tries to justify his actions.

Get Real Child Sex Tourism - Sold for Sex (Singapore)
Producer: Sharon Hun
Production company: MediaCorp News Ptd Ltd
The programme investigates the plight of child sex workers on the Indonesian Island of Batam. It explores how it is driven by demand from predominantly Singaporeans men, who head for the island every weekend.

Emergency - Junior Boxer (Philippines)
Producer: Sherilyn Bruan
Production company: GMA Network Inc.
Residents of General Santos City (Philippines) are very fond of boxing.  Even children, some as young as three years old, undergo intensive training to become professional boxers. As part of their training, the frail bodies of these children are exposed to regular beatings and many sustain grave injuries that sometimes even result in death.

We Shall Overcome (Bangladesh)
Producer: Kazi Roksana Parvin Ruma
Production company: Boishakhi Media Limited
This documentary chronicles the life of an eight-year-old girl who is deaf and mute. It tells the story of how with tremendous courage she confronts many problems and continues to believe she can succeed in her dream to become a fine arts teacher.

School of the Highlands (Philippines)
Producer: ACPC Sikat
Production company: Asian Council for People’s Culture (ACPC) and Schools of Indigenous Knowledge and Traditions (SIKAT)
The importance placed on education by indigenous communities in the Philippines is recounted in this documentary which looks at the challenges families face in schooling their children and promoting their rights.

Note to the Editors:
More information is available at http://www.childrightsaward.org/

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) is a non-profit, non-government, professional association of broadcasting organisations, formed in 1964 to facilitate the development of broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region and to organize co-operative activities amongst its members. It currently has over 160 members in 55 countries, with its broadcaster members reaching a potential audience of about 3 billion people. It organizes many activities and projects to promote excellence in broadcasting, and to improve the programmes, skills and technologies of its members, including the ABU Children’s TV Programme Item Exchange www.abu.org.my

Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA)
The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia is an industry-based advocacy group dedicated to the promotion of multi-channel television via cable, satellite, broadband and wireless video networks across the Asia-Pacific. CASBAA represents some 110 Asia-based corporations, which in turn serve more than 3 billion people.
www.casbaa.com

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About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
For further information, please contact:

Craig Hobbs, ABU (Kuala Lumpur): Tel + 603 2282 3592, craig.h@abu.org.my
Ho Hwei-An, CASBAA: Tel + 65 9616 7918, hweian@casbaa.com
Rebecca Kennedy, CASBAA: Tel + 852 2854 9913, pr@casbaa.com
Madeline Eisner, UNICEF Bangkok: Tel + 66 2 356 9406, meisner@unicef.org
Shantha Bloemen, UNICEF Bangkok: Tel + 66 2 356 9407, sbloemen@unicef.org

NEW YORK, 10 November 2006 - A young Kenyan has won a global UNICEF photo and essay competition, the children’s agency announced today.

Contestants in the Voices of Youth and 2007 UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children Report Photography Contest: Inspirational Women submitted photographs and essays highlighting women as role models.

Over 70 entries were received from every part of the world featuring mothers, sisters, teachers, friends who have inspired young people.

“My grandmother has been an inspiration to three generations, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” said Mr. Arege.  In his essay, Mr. Arege describes how his grandmother worked hard to educate her sons, daughters and grandchildren. Her struggles against discrimination, and her insistence that her daughters be treated equally in the home and the school, empowered her children to achieve their aspirations.

“I wish to nominate my grandmother Aska Nyangwono Moturi as an inspirational woman. If my grandmother didn’t achieve her education, I would not be educated today.” said Mr. Arege.

The eight finalists, one from each region, will be featured in the multimedia version of UNICEF’s State of World’s Children Report 2007multimedia version which will be available at www.unicef.org/sowc07 on 11 December 2006. This year’s report highlights the links between the well-being of women and children.

“Every entry that came in was a gift,” said Voices of Youth coordinator, Amber Oliver. “Children from every region inspired us with accounts of their mothers, sisters, teachers and neighbours changing the world, one by one, together.”

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About the State of World Children’s Report
Every year, UNICEF issues its flagship publication, The State of the World’s Children, the most comprehensive and authoritative report on the world’s children, combining analyses, human interest stories, country profiles, maps and statistical data for 195 countries and territories.

About Voices of Youth (VOY)
http://www.unicef.org/voy/
Since 1995, VOY has focused on exploring the educational and community building potential of the internet, and facilitating the active and substantive participation of young people on child rights and development related issues. Through web boards, interactive quizzes, youth leadership profiles, live chat and more, Voices of Youth provides thousands of young people for over 180 countries with an opportunity to self-inform, engage in lively debate and partner – with their peers and decision makers – to create a world fit for children.

About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

NEW YORK, 8 December 2006 - Six decades after its inception as a temporary relief agency, UNICEF is marking its 60th anniversary today, celebrating its many achievements on behalf of children all over the world.

Born from the ashes of World War II, UNICEF’s first mission was to provide milk, food, blankets and medicine to millions of European children left hungry, homeless and weakened by war.  Serving more than six million meals a day, it quickly earned the nickname, “milkman to the world’s children.”

Once the children of Europe were on their way to recovery, UNICEF broadened its mandate beyond European borders to help children suffering from poverty and illness throughout the world.  Ever since then UNICEF has been on an evolutionary journey, adapting to meet the needs of children in an ever changing world.

UNICEF’s advocacy and programming efforts have literally saved the lives of millions of children. UNICEF lists among its achievements:
• Conducting global immunization campaigns against six diseases – diphtheria, measles, pertussis, polio, tuberculosis and tetanus – which saves the lives of millions of children every year.
• Giving Vitamin A supplements to children has helped reduce mortality by about 25 per cent in areas where child death rates are high.
• Campaigning for the production of iodized salt to reduce the risk of mental disability caused by iodine deficiency. An estimated 70 per cent of all households in the developing world now consume iodized salt, sparing millions of children the risk of mental disability.
• Getting more children are in school today than in any other time in history. In many parts of the world, disparities in enrolment between boys and girls are narrowing.
• Returning hundreds of thousands of children affected by armed conflict and natural disaster to school thanks to the invention of UNICEF’s school-in-a-box.

Perhaps UNICEF’s greatest achievement has been putting children at the center of the international development agenda.  No longer a separate cause with separate concerns, children are an important part of global strategies to reduce illness, poverty and mortality while boosting education, gender equality and environmental sustainability. In short, they are at the very heart of the Millennium Development Goals.  In the coming years UNICEF will continue to push for the needs of children, centering its efforts on reaching MDG targets by 2015.

Highlights of the 60th anniversary celebration include a commemorative meeting at the UN General Assembly, the screening of a new UNICEF documentary, “Wake Up World,” a photo exhibit and multi-media art show entitled, “Mosaic UNICEF,” and, of course, a celebration with children.

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About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For further information, please contact:

Jehane Sedky-Lavandero, UNICEF Media NY, 1-212-326-7261, jsedky@unicef.org
Karen Dukess, UNICEF Media NY, 1-212-303-7910, kdukess@unicef.org
Angela Hawke, UNICEF Media NY, 1 212-326-7269, ahawke@unicef.org
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media, NY 1 212 326 7452, kdonovan@unicef.org