Moscow, 7 December, 2006: UN Children's fund (UNICEF) and The European Commission present the photographic exhibition "Chechnya through the eyes of children"
The exhibition “Chechnya through the Eyes of Children” will be officially opened at the Foyer of the House of Cinema (Vasilievskaya ulitsa, 13) on 11 December, at 17h30. The exhibition, held in the framework of Stalker film festival, is presented by UNICEF, with financial support from the European Commission. The exhibition will be open to the public from 10 to 17 December. Composed of pictures taken by 10 Chechen children trained in photography by UNICEF with the EC support, the exhibition reflects life in Chechnya as children see it. These photographs remind us in a powerful way that, despite the physical destruction, the destitution and the personal suffering that have affected the lives of ordinary people in Chechnya, a whole generation of children is living there right now. Carel de Rooy, UNICEF Representative in the Russian Federation and Belarus, Paul Vandoren, Deputy Head of the European Commission Delegation to Russia, and two of the young photographers from Grozny, Magomed Bamatkiriev, 14, and Amina Khaskhanova, 10, will participate in the official opening. For more information, please, contact John Brittain, UNICEF, Russia, (7 495) 937 4812, jbrittain@unicef.org, Elena Kharitonova, UNICEF, Russia, (7 495) 937-2195;
Background information: Since autumn 1999, the European Commission through its Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) has provided humanitarian assistance to the population affected by the conflict in Chechnya. In 2006 the European Commission contributed € 26 million to the victims of the Chechnya conflict and the total aid has reached € 200 million, making the European Union the leading donor to the region. EC has worked together with UNICEF in the Northern Caucasus since 2001. With the EC funding UNICEF implements water and sanitation programmes in Chechnya, support education in Chechnya and Ingushetia (including by providing school equipment and textbooks). Children also receive assistance through psychosocial centres established in Chechnya and are trained on mine risk awareness. UNICEF has been providing assistance to children and mothers in the Northern Caucasus since late 1999. The organisation has implemented projects for almost $ 40 million in the region, in partnership with local authorities and international and local NGOs. UNICEF is working in the following areas: education, health, water and sanitation, child rights’ promotion, mine action, psychological rehabilitation and peace & tolerance promotion. 14/1, Kadashevskaya nab., Moscow, Russia 109017
Related links Children of the North Caucasus Want to Live in Peace
Chechnya through the eyes of children [View photo essay] |
