30/07/2003

'United for Unicef' campaign kicks off

Manager of Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson and four leading players led a soccer clinic on the UN Lawn yesterday to celebrate the 'United for Unicef' partnership against child exploitation.

The partnership has raised more than £1 million in support of Unicef’s programmes around the globe since 1999.

Carol Bellamy, Unicef Executive Director, said: “Over the past three years, Unicef has been very fortunate to have Manchester United on our side.

“Football plays a crucial role in supporting and protecting children around the world and we are delighted that Manchester United, through the 'United for Unicef' partnership, are such enthusiastic supporters in our goal to end child exploitation.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, together with Roy Carroll, Quinton Fortune, Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, called for the ending of child exploitation.

Sir Alex, who has met and talked with children suffering from exploitation, said: “Hearing about child exploitation is shocking enough, but meeting children face to face, as the team and I did when we visited a Unicef-supported project in Bangkok two years ago, really brings home the vulnerability of these innocent victims.”

Earlier this year, Manchester United pledged their support to Unicef for a further three years during which time the partnership will focus on raising awareness about issues linked to child exploitation including child trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation and child labour.

(GMcG)

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