UNICEF AND SOT EL ARAB RADIO PRESENT AWARDS FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS COMPETITION

Competition winners with their certificates

Cairo, 20 March 2005. The winners of a competition highlighting children's rights organized by UNICEF and Sot el Arab radio have received their awards. The presentation of certificates and cash prizes to the nine winners took place at a ceremony in the Cairo headquarters of the Upper Egypt Association.

The competition took the form of a special programme entitled "Tomorrow's Sun" which was aired on Sot el Arab during Ramadan 2004. Young listeners were invited to answer questions relating to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The situation of street children, and problems relating to school and family were among the issues tackled.

During 29 episodes, participants chose articles from the Convention (relating to education, health, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, rest and leisure) and were asked to explain their relevance to their daily lives.

Sot Al Arab reporter, Amal Allam, who devised the competition, said it was the first example of cooperation between UNICEF and Sot el Arab. "The results were very impressive," said Ms Allam. "We received nearly 600 responses, showing just how interested children are to discuss important issues such as child labor, violence against children and drugs."

UNICEF Communication Officer Simon Ingram said the prizes were meant to encourage children's creativity. "We wanted to find another way of allowing children to express their own views and opinions on issues important to them. Radio – and the media in general –is a crucial partner to us in this respect."

During the award ceremony, the young winners spoke enthusiastically about the experience.
Essam Ali, the General Secretary of the NGO Coalition on Children's Rights, said the programme was a good avenue for children to discuss issues that mattered most to them. "This goes to show the need for more of the national media to address children's issues".

For further information please contact:
Simon Ingram, Communication Officer,
(2 02) 5265083-87 Ext 210 Fax: (202) 5264218
singram@unicef.org