Note to Correspondents

Exhibition of Winning Images in Worldwide Democracy Photo Challenge

 

Launches Today at United Nations Headquarters

 

The Democracy Photo Challenge, a worldwide competition that engages people around the world in a global dialogue on democracy, will launch the 12 winning photos in an exhibition in the South Gallery of the Visitors’ Lobby on 15 September, the International Day of Democracy.

“As a photographer, I am inspired by the quality of the content we’ve seen in the Photo Challenge,” said jury co-chair Louie Psihoyos, Academy Award-winning documentary director (The Cove) and photographer.  “But it is as an activist that I am most moved.  These images allow us to experience life through the eyes of another and better understand how they experience democracy.  It is truly eye-opening.”

Joining Psihoyos as co-chairs were Willis E. Hartshorn, Director of the International Center of Photography, and Phil Borges, documentary photographer and founder of the non-profit Bridges to Understanding.  An online gallery of the winning entries is available at http://www.democracyphotochallenge.america.gov.

The 12 winners competed with nearly 3,000 entries from 131 countries.  A high-level independent jury narrowed the field of submissions to 36 finalists representing each of the world’s regions.  The online voting public then selected their favourites.  In all, more than 500,000 people participated in the voting.

The Democracy Photo Challenge, part of the global “Democracy is…” global conversation created by a unique public-private partnership, asks engaged citizens around the world to complete the phrase “Democracy is…” through creative online challenges and dynamic offline dialogue.

On 8 November 2007, the General Assembly proclaimed 15 September the International Day of Democracy, which provides an annual opportunity to review the state of democracy around the world.

The exhibition is organized by the United States Department of State, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations.

For more information on United Nations exhibitions, call Jan Arnesen at tel.:  1 212 963 8531, or Liza Wichmann at tel.:  1 212 963 0089.

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For information media • not an official record