At a glance: Switzerland

Switzerland launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS Campaign

© UNICEF SWZK/2005/Ferre

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manager, Manchester United FC. Sir Alex helped launch UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS in Geneva today.

By Angela Hawke

GENEVA, Switzerland, 25 October 2005 – Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, one of the world’s most successful football clubs, helped launch the UNITE FOR CHILDREN  UNITE AGAINST AIDS Campaign in Geneva today.

Sir Alex spoke with passion about the campaign and about his team's links with UNICEF through the UNITED for UNICEF partnership.

Equally as eloquent and powerful was 17-year-old Ukrainian activist Mariya Leonova, who spoke of the urgent need for education of youth about HIV/AIDS. She told the assembled media that, among the students in her class, only one knew about AIDS.

© UNICEF SWZK/2005/Ferre

Mariya Leonova, 17, talks about her work as a Peer Educator on HIV in Ukraine.

Purnima Mane, UNAIDS director of Social Policy, Partnerships and Evidence, brought a global perspective to the event through her remarks, stressing the importance of partnership. Philip O'Brien, Regional Director for the UNICEF Office for Geneva, and Maria Calivis, Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe, spoke about how important it is to focus on helping children combat AIDS.

Learn more about Campaign events around the world.