23 September 2009 - UNICEF Sudan announces media awards for 2009Khartoum/Juba – UNICEF Sudan today announced winners of the first national UNICEF Media Award, designed to recognise efforts by Sudanese journalists to promote child rights through the media. This year’s Awards, which are made in consultation with the Ministry of Information and Communication of the Government of National Unity and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of Southern Sudan, focused on the theme of health promotion and looked for entries that helped promote better for health for children and women. Two main Awards were made this year:
Mrs. Habbani has written extensively on children’s and women’s issues, and her entry on the importance of hand washing was noted for its educational and informative focus, with an emphasis on enabling families to better protect their children’s health. Mr. Elsamani’s entry – a simple photograph showing the distances and challenges faced by rural households in search of clean water – was considered by the judges to be a powerful reminder of the need for further investment in water supply in Sudan, while noting the efforts taken by families to protect their children’s health. In addition UNICEF Sudan decided to award a Special Mention to Mr. Moses Deng Ngong, recognizing a young journalist who has consistently shown an interest in promoting children’s issues through the media over the last year. Speaking at a special presentation of the Awards today, UNICEF Representative to Sudan Mr.Nils Kastberg emphasised the important role played by the national media in advocating for children’s rights. “UNICEF believes that the media have a role not only to report on the condition of women and children, but to increase awareness of what needs to be done to improve the condition of women and children, and to advocate for society at all levels to uphold the rights of every child,” he said. “The winners of this year’s Awards have demonstrated a determination to promote the rights of children in Sudan, to educate people about the challenges facing children in Sudan, and to urge for collective action to tackle those challenges – these are worthy winners, and we congratulate them for their drive and dedication to children.” The winners of the UNICEF Sudan Media Awards will now have their entries submitted to UNICEF’s Regional Media Awards for the Middle East and North Africa, and will be invited to participate in a regional media forum to be held later this year.
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