Press Releases
December 3, 2012
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom Spends a Day with South African Children
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom met with young people near Cape Town to learn more about their lives and to spread the word about what they have to say. The actor met with young reporters at an Atlantis community radio station, where he gave an exclusive interview. The young people are part of the Youth Reporters Network, a partnership between UNICEF, the Children’s Radio Foundation and the Department of Basic Education, which gives young people a platform to broadcast their views on violence and teen pregnancy.
December 3, 2012
100 Millionth Person Receives Lifesaving Meningitis Vaccine
A revolutionary meningitis vaccine will reach the 100 millionth person this week in a region of Africa that has been plagued by deadly epidemics for more than a century. The milestone will take place in northern Nigeria, part of Africa’s “meningitis belt,” where the country is conducting its second seasonal immunization campaign against the disease. Nigeria will vaccinate 16 million people over the next two weeks and Cameroon and Chad are also conducting immunization campaigns this week targeting 5.5 million and 2.3 million people respectively.
November 29, 2012
UNICEF Renews Call for Children to be Protected in Syrian Conflict
Following reports by Human Rights Watch and others this week that Syrian children are being killed and maimed by cluster bombs and used as fighters and guards, UNICEF reiterates that children must be protected at all times. “It is more than disturbing. It is outrageous and unacceptable to see the rights of children being violated in these ways,” said Executive Director Anthony Lake. “The longer this goes on, the more lasting the damage to children, to their future and thus the future of Syria itself.”
November 28, 2012
More than $2.5 Million Raised at Eighth Annual UNICEF Snowflake Ball
The 2012 UNICEF Snowflake Ball, held on Tuesday, November 27 at Cipriani 42nd Street, honored UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Harry Belafonte and U.S. Fund for UNICEF National Board Member Dolores Rice Gahan for their commitment to saving and improving children’s lives. Presented by Baccarat, the eighth annual black-tie gala, which raised more than $2.5 million for UNICEF’s global child survival and development programs, was emceed by Bryant Gumbel and featured performances by Tony Bennett and the Wynton Marsalis Quintet.
November 28, 2012
On World AIDS Day, More Pregnant Women and Children Must Get Treatment
New HIV infections in children are down, but reaching the goal of an AIDS-free generation requires treating more pregnant women and children living with HIV, UNICEF said today. Thanks to remarkable global commitment, the world has seen a 24% reduction in new HIV infections in children—from 430,000 in 2009 to 330,000 in 2011. Approximately 100,000 more children received antiretroviral treatment in 2011 than the previous year. Despite this progress, less than 1/3 of children and pregnant women are receiving the treatment they need.
