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Media advisory

Bellamy to launch ‘The State of the World’s Children 2005’ with Goodwill Ambassador Vanessa Redgrave in London

UNICEF says childhood is a brutal experience for half of world’s children – crucial years destroyed by poverty, conflict and AIDS

Who:            Carol Bellamy, UNICEF Executive Director 
                    Vanessa Redgrave, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
                    Prof. Peter Townsend, London School of Economics
                    18 yr-old Temidayo Israel-Abdulai, a youth activist from Nigeria
                    Other distinguished speakers 

What: Launch of The State of the World’s Children 2005 - Press conference to be  available via Telephone

When: Thursday, 9 December 2004 11.00 am – 12.00 pm.

Where: London School of Economics, Main Building,  Vera Anstey Suite, Mezzanine Level between Ground & First Floor, Old Building, Main Entrance, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE

Why: 

• Childhood today is under threat for more than 1 billion children. Poverty, conflict, and HIV/AIDS are among the most serious threats undercutting childhood across the globe. 
• One is six children is severely hungry; one in seven has no health care at all; one in five has no safe water and one in three has no toilet or sanitation facilities at home.
• Children account for nearly half of the 3.6 million people killed in conflicts since 1990.
• AIDS is now the single largest killer of people ages 15-49 in the developing world.

Background information:

• The State of the World’s Children is UNICEF’s annual flagship publication.  It is the most comprehensive survey of global trends affecting children. In addition to analysis of major issues, it provides a complete almanac of up-to-date statistical data on children.
• This year’s launch of The State of the World’s Children will be UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy’s tenth.

Note to broadcasters: 

• UNICEF will provide a live feed from the event site to British Telecom (BT).  We provide the camera, two-way audio, backdrop etc. for a professional TV broadcast (ITN has been contracted for this).  This feed to BT will be passed to APTN for their live coverage on APTN Direct.

• Broadcasters who subscribe to APTN Direct will receive the feed live into their control rooms.  For broadcasters who do not subscribe to APTN Direct (which is a second feed offered by APTN to its subscribers, different from their main feed), there are two options: First is to book through BT for a sat feed of the live proceedings.  Second is to book through the UNICEF Media Team in London for a live interview with CB or other spokesperson, and then book the sat time with BT.

• Networks need to book onto "ITN57 S1 A+B" to access the live feed of the event and/or their unilateral 2-ways. This signal will be in analogue PAL 625 4:3 format with dual mono sound.  Each broadcaster will pay BT for the sat time they use taking the live feed, be it the press event or live interviews.

• For interviews: Contact UNICEF Media in NY or London.
  Then they must contact BT Scheduling Office on +44 (0) 20 7423 5514 or +44 (0) 20 7423 5517 to make the sat arrangements. Kindly provide the UNICEF London Media team with the contact number of the control room so that we can call them a few minutes ahead of the live shot. 

• For Live Audio: Radio broadcasters can listen to the press event live by dialling in to our live, broadcast-quality ISDN audio feed.

• International listeners need to dial: 44 1296 317 600
  Domestic UK listeners need to dial:  01296 317 600

• Passcode for all participants: 490330#

• Live radio interviews on the ISDN line can be scheduled following the press conference through UNICEF Media in NY or London.

• B-roll is also available.

For further information, please contact:

UNICEF Media, New York: (+1 212) 326-7261
Alfred Ironside, UNICEF Media, (+1 646) 247-2975
Jehane Sedky-Lavandero, UNICEF Media, (+1 917) 660-5307
Wivina Belmonte, UNICEF Media, Geneva (+41 22) 909-5712
Kate Donovan, UNICEF Media, New York (+1 212) 326-7452
Gerrit Beger, UNICEF Media, (+ 44) 7903162610