Egyptian television and Sabah el Kheir magazine scoop inaugural NCCM/UNICEF Children’s Media Awards

Dr. Erma Manoncourt, UNICEF Egypt Representative, speaks at the event marking UNICEF's 60th anniversary.

Cairo, December 22, 2006: The results of the inaugural NCCM/ UNICEF Children’s Media awards were announced at a gala event held last Tuesday in Cairo marking UNICEF’s 60th anniversary. The Thematic Channels of Egyptian Television and the weekly magazine Sabah el Kheir took the top honours.

The gala event at the Monasterly Palace was entitled Together for a Better Future for Egypt's Children: Celebrating 60 Years of Partnership. The audience included representatives of the government, UN agencies, civil society and the private sector as well as children. Popular actor, Khaled Aboul Naga, joined veteran child rights advocates Dr Adel Azer and Ms Marie Assad, both of whom received special awards for their contributions to the advancement of child rights in Egypt.

The Child Rights Award for Young Journalists was awarded to Abeer Salah El-Deen from Sabah El-Kheir magazine for her coverage of female genital mutilation (FGM). NCCM Secretary General, Ambassador Moushira Khattab, said the winning article went beyond the legal, medical and religious aspects of the FGM issue. “The journalist went inside the minds of those girls who have been exposed to this practice and illustrated the pain and fear that they had to go through”.

Second place went to Samia Abdel Salam from Al Ahram newspaper for a short story about a son of a door keeper who threatens to kill himself unless his father stops mistreating him. The award judges said the story conveyed strong messages about how children need the care and love of their family and how they are entitled to full enjoyment of their childhood.

Commendation was made of an article by Emad Nassef from Ahar newspaper. A full two page investigation, this piece reported on the plight of street children, working children, those who are victims of sexual abuse, and the issue of the amendment of the Child Law.

13 year-old Fatma receiving the certificate of commendation from UNICEF Egypt Representative Dr. Erma Manoncourt.

The Children’s Award for Broadcasting went to The Orchestra, a cartoon produced by the Thematic Channels of Egyptian Television. Presenting the award to producer Shwikar Khalifa and director Attiya Adel Khairy, UNICEF Egypt Representative, Dr Erma Manoncourt, said The Orchestra showed how animation could sometimes capture ideas and feelings in a way that eluded documentaries.

“This animation film used humour and originality to convey its messages about how problems in a community can be solved through persuasion and setting a good example, “said Dr Manoncourt.

Second place in the broadcast category went to “Fatma”, a documentary also produced and broadcast by the Nile Thematic Channels. The film tells the story of a young girl who seemed to have missed the chance of getting an education, but who became aware that going to school was her right. The film was praised for telling the story from the child’s perspective, with warmth and conviction. The girl profiled in the film, 13 year-old Fatma Abdo joined the producers on stage to receive the award.

Egyptian radio was commended for a programme entitled “Homeless”, highlighting the plight of working children. Special mention also went to the films contributed by Media House which were cited for their superior production and their readiness to examine difficult subjects such as the situation of autistic and Down’s Syndrome children.

The NCCM/UNICEF Children’s Media Awards were launched in 2006 with the aim of encouraging improved standards of reporting on children’s issues in Egypt’s print and broadcast media.

The evening’s programme included the Egyptian premiere of a documentary film about the children’s agency’s 60 year history narrated by the veteran leading lady of Egyptian cinema, Faten Hamama.

The film recounted UNICEF’s contribution to global immunization campaigns against polio and tuberculosis as well as its efforts during international disasters and its support for girls’ education.

For further information please contact:

Simon Ingram, Communication Officer, UNICEF Egypt

Telephone: (202) 526 5083 through 5087 (ext. 210)

E-mail: singram@unicef.org

Iman Morooka, Assistant Communication Officer, UNICEF Egypt

Telephone: (202) 526 5083 through 5087 (ext. 206)

E-mail: imorooka@unicef.org