Children and HIV and AIDS

Winning design unveiled for international advertising competition on children and AIDS

© UNICEF/HQ05-1529/Bester Burke Agency

The winning design depicts a child’s drawing of two graves, marked by crosses, and a girl, with the words ‘Mommy, Daddy, me’, created by Bester Burke, a South African ad agency. It was chosen from 300 entries.

By Jane O’Brien

NEW YORK, USA, 27 October 2005 – The winning poster design of an international advertising competition to raise awareness of the enormous impact of HIV/AIDS on children was unveiled today in a ceremony at UNICEF headquarters. The competition was co-sponsored by UNICEF and Clear Channel Outdoor, the world’s leading outdoor advertising companies. 

The poster shows a child standing beside the graves of her parents. UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said it illustrated the disproportionate impact of the AIDS pandemic on children.

“The image we unveil today demonstrates the devastation of HIV/AIDS very simply and powerfully,” Ms. Veneman said. “We often speak about what children are missing because of AIDS. They are missing their parents and caregivers, missing the childhood they deserve, missing their future.”

The poster design will be seen on billboards in 50 countries, as part of the first outdoor advertising campaign of its type.

Celebrities

© UNICEF/HQ05-1530/Markisz

L to R: Clear Channel Outdoor President Paul Myers, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Whoopi Goldberg, the Muppet Kami, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore and his wife Kristina Moore.

Among celebrities present at the event was UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir Roger Moore, who said the winning image had a universal appeal. Also present were Kami, the HIV-positive Muppet, and fellow UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Whoopi Goldberg, who explained the importance of the campaign.

“This poster is to do with children and AIDS because, unfortunately, they are the last group anyone thinks about,” said Ms. Goldberg. “Sometimes we remember that children are left without parents, but we don’t really think about the impact that AIDS has on children as another group.”

“We invited ad agencies from around the world to submit copy,” said Paul Meyers, Global President of Clear Channel Outdoor. “The contest received submissions from 300 agencies [including] 17 from Africa and 61 from Asia. The result was the winning poster that you’ve seen this morning, and that we’ve now committed as part of our initial effort to display in 50 countries, on six continents, with approximately $5 million of free advertising to promote awareness of the AIDS epidemic.”

About the campaign

UNICEF’s UNITE FOR CHILDREN  UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign aims to put children at the centre of the fight against HIV/AIDS. One child dies every minute of every day from the disease, yet few receive any medical treatment or support. The campaign has already received worldwide attention since its launch on Tuesday (25 October 2005).

Learn more about Campaign events around the world.