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Press release


  • 2 October 2006

Vanessa Redgrave visits University in support of UNICEF


In June 2004, world-renowned British actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Vanessa Redgrave visited East Jerusalem in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Photo UNICEF/HQ04-0413/Steve Sabella

In June 2004, world-renowned British actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Vanessa Redgrave visited East Jerusalem in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Photo UNICEF/HQ04-0413/Steve Sabella

Oscar-winning actress and human rights activist Vanessa Redgrave, CBE, will arrive at the University Of Sussex in the first of a series of events from UNICEF on Campus for 2006.

Students and staff will be able to quiz the actress about her role as Goodwill Ambassador with the international children's fund when she appears at Falmer House on Monday 9th October. The talk is the first in a series of events from the University's branch of UNICEF on Campus aimed at raising awareness and funds among students, graduates and staff, through lectures, art shows and performances.

UNICEF on Campus was launched at Sussex in 2004 when the university became the first-ever higher education institution in the country to work in partnership with the charity. More than 30 other branches have been set up at universities in the UK since then. The role of these groups is to promote awareness of child rights and global issues, encourage interaction between students and the charitable organisation and empower people to represent the organisation among their student peers.

The event is being organised by UNICEF On Campus chair, Nathan Catt and will be chaired by Professor Sir Richard Jolly, research associate and former director of the Institute of Development Studies based at the University of Sussex. Sir Richard is an honorary chairman of UNICEF on Campus at Sussex and was deputy executive director of UNICEF Worldwide from 1982 to 1996.

Sir Richard says: "Vanessa Redgrave is one of the most committed and forthright of all UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassadors and is extremely knowledgeable about the organisation's work. If children are going to get a better deal in the world you need to reach out to young people and old people alike and make them realise they can do something.

"I hope UNICEF on Campus continues to raise awareness and encourage a better understanding of children in developing countries and perhaps some of those involved will even decide to dedicate their lives to helping children."

Ms Redgrave, who has won international acclaim for her stage and screen performances, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and several other Oscar nominations, became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF in 1995, after. As a member of one the country's most famous theatrical families, Ms Redgrave decided to put her name to several international human rights campaigns and first became involved with UNICEF in 1991.

The fund's recent campaign to help children affected by AIDS and its work to provide clean water for people across the globe will be highlighted by Ms Redgrave when she visits Sussex. She will also explain her decision to become involved with UNICEF and hold a question-and-answer session with the students and staff.

Her work with UNICEF has taken Ms Redgrave to Brazil to see how young people are educated in rural areas, while a trip to Kosovo in Yugoslavia in 1998 highlighted the plight of patients suffering from bronchitis, diarrhoea and vitamin deficiencies. She has also flown to Albania to meet Kosovar refugees conducting drama workshops for young people in refugee camps. The trip prompted the actress to help organise a concert, For The Children Of Kosovo, on behalf of UNICEF. She spoke about these experiences and her commitment to the organisation earlier this year during an interview when she stressed the importance of theatre and music for young people to express themselves. Talking about her support for UNICEF, Ms Redgrave recently said: "I believe that children everywhere have the right to grow to adulthood in peace, health and dignity."

The UNICEF talk with Ms Redgrave will be held at 1.15pm in the Falmer House Debating Chamber Room. Entry is free and a limited number of tickets are available on the door.

Notes for editors

For more information about UNICEF on Campus at the University of Sussex visit: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/affiliates/unicef/

 

For more information about UNICEF visit:

http://www.unicef.org.uk/

 

Pictures of Ms Redgrave are available from the University of Sussex Press Office.

 

University of Sussex Press Office contacts: Jacqui Bealing and Jessica Mangold, tel: 01273 678209, fax: 01273 877456 or email: press@sussex.ac.uk

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