NEWS / INTERVIEWS: UNICEF promotes children’s rights through film (AFRICA)

UNICEF promotes children's rights through film

QUESTION: What does UNICEF expect to achieve from all this? ANSWER: Our expectations are the same as the expectations of all children: to raise issues about child rights. The award is called 'UNICEF Child Rights Award' and it is to raise public awareness about issues that touch on children's lives -- such as children who might have been orphans because of HIV/AIDS, or are HIV positive. Also, children who may suffer from violence or those who are involved in child labour. We have been sponsoring this award since 2005. So far, two Tanzanian producers have won the award. The film 'Tumaini' took this award in 2005 and 'Elfu Huanza Moja' in 2007. In 2006, the award went to a Zimbabwean entry, 'Through my Eyes'. UNICEF goals for sponsoring this award have always been to promote children's rights through film. Additionally, through this award we hope to motivate both local and international film producers to think of and remember children and the issues surrounding them when developing screenplays – as well as the challenges facing children in our society today, such as the impact of HIV/AIDS, child labour, lack of access to basic education and health, violence, exploitation etc. full article