July 12, 2006: A busy week in Russia for the UNICEF Executive Director, Ann Veneman
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© UNICEF |
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, 12 July 2006 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman visited a specialized HIV clinic for children in the small town of Ust-Izhora, near St. Petersburg.
Today, 40 children aged under 7 who have been abandoned by their parents or are orphans live at the Ust-Izhora HIV centre.
“It would not be much of an understatement to say that Dr. Evgeny Voronin, who runs the clinic with support from UNICEF and other partners, and his team are working miracles there” said Ms. Veneman.
The hospital that houses the centre opened in 1879. Since 1991, it has been operating as a research facility specializing in HIV/AIDS treatment among children and prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child.
“I was incredibly moved to see how well-adjusted and healthy these children are, and to think how they now have a brighter future, thanks to the caring and committed people who are working to eradicate the stigma of HIV/AIDS” said Ms. Veneman.
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© UNICEF |
Later that day, Ms. Veneman joined the Governor of St. Petersburg to launch the city's Child-Friendly City Initiative. Administered by UNICEF's Innocenti Research Center, the initiative recognizes cities around the world that are working to make children a higher priority, whether in their budgets and programs, advocacy efforts or in other ways.
Earlier in the week Ms. Veneman participated in the opening of the Junior 8 summit. Hosted by the Russian Federation Government, in partnership with UNICEF and others, the Junior 8 was organized to give young people from around the world to share their views directly with the world’s leaders.
“What I saw was enough to give almost anyone hope for the future: young people aged 13 to 17 who are bright, enthusiastic, and discussing some of the most pressing problems of the world with a seriousness that might rival their adult counterparts of the G8 summit.” said Ms. Veneman.
