19 June 2002

New York, U.S.A.: The two-day Goodwill Ambassador and Messengers of Peace Meetings was host to 48 prominent personalities from the arts, film, music, sports, literature and public affairs. The event was an opportunity to promote a better understanding of the United Nations and the roles of celebrities with the organization.

United Nations Volunteers was represented by Honorary Ambassador Takehito Nakata. Mr.Nakata became an ambassador in 1993 after the death of his son, a UN Electoral Supervisor with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). He used the conference as a way to promote volunteerism in many aspects of the United Nations. He spoke on the importance of becoming an Honorary Ambassador and how he uses his position to further the role of volunteerism.

Mr. Nakata spoke in particular of HIV/AIDS and how UNV is giving a human face and voice to the epidemic. This was visible through the work of volunteers at local, regional and national levels. He also called attention to the fact that using well-known individuals to promote issues by reaching political leaders, youth and other groups, by enhancing visibility of programs, and by working with the media, is an effective means of advocacy.

The conference entitled "Celebrity Advocacy for the New Millennium" focused on the role that Goodwill Ambassadors and Messengers of Peace play in promoting the issues of the United Nations System. It gave the participants the opportunity to learn more about the priorities outlined by the Millennium Declaration. Workshops were used to discuss the issues around the Millennium Declaration in particular advocacy, health (HIV/AIDS), poverty, sustainable development and humanitarian crises.

Many of the participants spoke of how their voluntary work with UN agencies had changed their lives and increased their dedication to their specific passions.

Academy Award winning actress Angelina Jolie Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR has traveled to Sierra Leone, Ecuador and Pakistan to work with refugees. She spoke of her goal to bring the issues into a more public forum to be heard and not forgotten.

Dr. Chea Samnang, a medical doctor and actor, spoke of his work with UNFPA in his home country Cambodia. He spoke passionately about the need to educate youth about the HIV/AIDS epidemic.