AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM ‘CHILD SOLDIERS’ TO BE SCREENED AT THE UNITED NATIONS

AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM ‘CHILD SOLDIERS’

TO BE SCREENED AT THE UNITED NATIONS

UNITED NATIONS, New York, 3 October 2003 -- A screening of the award-winning documentary film “Child Soldiers”, hosted by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, in collaboration with HBO, will take place on Monday, 6 October 2003, at 6:30 p.m. in the Trusteeship Council Chamber.

“Child Soldiers” is a powerful exposé of children who have suffered the trauma of soldiering as well as those still actively fighting in various conflicts around the world.  The film, produced by Ogilvie Productions, will debut on HBO2 on Wednesday, 8 October 2003.

The documentary tells the stories of children routinely forced into committing atrocities.  The children are filmed again when they re-connect with family and community, some undergoing simple but emotionally charged ceremonies of traditional cultural rites and human compassion.

During five years of development, and a year of production, “Child Soldiers” took highly specialized filmmakers, equipped with lightweight digital cameras, into conflict zones across four continents.  All faced considerable challenges -- and danger -– often operating alone in difficult locations.

Under-Secretary-General Olara A. Otunnu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict has invited Permanent Missions, United Nations Secretariat staff, representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the media to attend.

The Special Representative serves as an international advocate for children affected by armed conflict by promoting standards and measures for their protection in times of war as well as their rehabilitation and social reintegration in the aftermath of conflict.

For further information, please contact: Jean-Victor Nkolo, Office of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict tel.:  +1-212-963-9879; +1-917-378-8464 mobile; fax:  +1-212-963-0807; nkolo@un.org Or Paul Marotta, HBO, Media Relations Manager, Program Publicity 1100 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 tel.: +1-212/512-1322;

fax:  +1-212-512-5517; e-mail:  paul.marotta@hbo.com

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