EGYPTIAN TV WINS INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY OF BROADCASTING AWARD

Raweya Rashed from Egyptian TV and independent film director Oliver Wilkins receive the ICDB award.

NEW YORK/CAIRO, 27 November 2005 - Egyptian TV won the International Children's Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) award at last week's 33rd International Emmy Awards Gala. The special prize is awarded every year by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and UNICEF.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors Danny Glover from the United States and Nawal Al Moutawakil from Morocco presented the award to Head of Egyptian TV's Family and Child Channel, Raweya Rashed, and independent film director Oliver Wilkins at a star-studded ceremony at the New York Hilton.

"This is for the Egyptian children," Raweya Rashed said as she accepted the ICDB award.

Egyptian TV was voted as having the best programming on the International Children's Day of Broadcasting on December 12, 2004. The theme was "Help Build a Safer World for Children". Egyptian TV broadcast the film "The Rebellion of the Canes" which documented a group of children producing their own cartoon satirizing corporal punishment. In it, the teachers' canes come to life and discover a world beyond beating children. “The Rebellion of the Canes” was a production of UNICEF Egypt.

The making of "Rebellion of the Canes"

Mr Wilkins – who directed the film – said: "This award will help us as we try to open a dedicated space for children within the Egyptian media."

Egyptian TV was selected from a list of eight regional ICDB prize winners which included TVE Brazil, ATN Bangla from Bangladesh, CCTV China, Denmark's Radio Denmark, ETV Ethiopia, NTA Nigeria and Yangi Avlod Uzbekistan.

"This year's winners are representative of the growing excellence in worldwide programming and the Academy is proud to be the platform for recognizing outstanding achievement in the international television community," said Academy President and CEO Bruce Paisner.

The International Children's Day of Broadcasting award honours the broadcaster whose programming gives children an opportunity to speak up and be heard.

"The International Children's Day of Broadcasting unites children all over the world and helps adults learn more about how children think and feel," said Stephen Cassidy, Chief of UNICEF's Broadcast Section.

This year's International Children's Day of Broadcasting on December 11, 2005 highlights the power of sport. The theme for the day is "Sport for Development and Peace". All television stations that participate can compete for the ICDB award.

Founded in 1969, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with over 500 members from nearly 70 countries and over 350 companies. The Academy was chartered with a mission to recognize excellence in television programming produced outside of the United States.

For information about the International Children's Day of Broadcasting:

Please visit www.unicef.org/icdb

Or contact: Simon Ingram, UNICEF Egypt, singram@unicef.org Tel: + 202 526 5083 thru 87

Mobile : + 2012 214 2567
http://www.unicef.org/egypt/