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UNICEF supports Pavlov Festival to promote rights of children with disabilities

Rehearsal before the performance

Kyiv, 15 September 2012 - the grand opening of the Pavlov Festival for children with special needs was held today. This year the Festival lasts from 15 till 23 September and is being held in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Lviv, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Irpin, Lutsk, Chervonograd, Sumy, Poltava, Odesa. The Festival is being held for the second time and was initiated by Kastaliya Foundation of social adaptation and integration and Kyiv city psychoneurolgic hospital #1.

Painting master class

UNICEF Ukraine Child Protection Specialist, Gabrielle Akimova, participated in the festival’s opening and greeted all the participants and organisers. “All children, including children with special needs, need our love, care and attention. On behalf of UNICEF Ukraine I’d like to thank the organiser for this wonderful festival that celebrates our diversity. It is important for us to work to prevent misunderstandings and fears towards differences,” – said Ms. Akimova. “I am glad that among the participants today there are many children. I brought my two children to show them that all children are equally beautiful and talented. I hope this festival will further promote tolerance and support to children with disabilities,” - she added.

The program of the interregional Pavlov Festival in 2012 includes:

plays, concerts, other events in the creative teams of people with disabilities;
exhibition of paintings and sculptures of artists with disabilities and promotion of professional artists Kyiv to support the ideas of the Festival;
workshops conducted by famous artists for orphans;
holidays for children in special schools;
roundtables with leaders of relevant government agencies and non-governmental organisations devoted to the problems of people and children with disabilities;
interdisciplinary Conference "Men and rules";
Gala concert for participants and award ceremony.

Find more information here: http://www.pavlov-fest.kiev.ua

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About UNICEF: UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the world leader in protecting the rights and interests of children. The Fund operates in over 190 countries and territories to protect and support children from an early age through adolescence. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF mission in Ukraine commenced in 1997. More info at: www.unicef.org.ua. Join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

For further information, please contact:
Veronika Vashchenko, UNICEF Kyiv, tel + 38 044 254 2450, vvashchenko@unicef.org

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