Secretary General Kofi Annan Opens the International Year of Volunteers.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 27, 2000

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan opens on Tuesday, November 28, the International Year of Volunteers 2001 - a year which aims to recognize and celebrate the vital contributions of volunteering worldwide.

"Volunteers can help transform all our societies, for the benefit of all people. But for this to happen, societies need to promote volunteerism as a valuable activity, and to facilitate the work of volunteers at home and abroad." says Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In 1997, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers and designated the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), which has almost 5,000 UN volunteers out in the field, as the Year's focal point.

"We want to reach out and draw the world's attention to the enormous contributions of millions of volunteers," says Sharon Capeling-Alakija, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers. "We want to ask people to get involved and we hope to facilitate more favorable conditions for all those who volunteer their time and talent for the benefit of others."

The programme of the opening ceremony also includes remarks by the Parliamentary Vice Minister from Japan, Mr. Shinya Ono; the Minister of Gender Labor and Social Development of Uganda, Hon. Janat Mukwaya; Dr. Astrid Heiberg, President, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); Dr. Ruth Cardoso, First Lady of Brazil; Ms. Anita Roddick CEO of The Body Shop; Ms. Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, Co-chair of US IYV Committee; Bernard Kouchner of UNMIK in Kosovo and Sergio Vieira de Mello of UNTAET in East Timor; UN Volunteers, Ms. Amy Stafford, the US, Ms. Monette Rana, the Philippines, and Mr. Olufemi Olugbemi, Nigeria; Ms. Nadia Comaneci, Olympic Gold Medalist; and H.R.H. The Prince of Asturias, Don Felipe de Borbon, of Spain.

At 3 pm, following the opening ceremony, Ms. Capeling-Alakija, Mrs. Nane Annan, and David Morrison of the Netaid Foundation, will open a UNV/IYV exhibit that will be displayed in the UN General Assembly lobby through 28 February 2001, before travelling around the world. The official launch of IYV 2001 will take place on 5 December 2000, International Volunteer Day, with national events all over world.

Program participants and special guests will be available for interviews after the program is concluded.

For accreditation: Covering media must submit request for UN access on letterhead to UN Media Accreditation & Liaison Unit-fax: [phone]; to verify receipt of fax please call [phone]/7164. Pass must be obtained at 45th & 1st Avenue, UNITAR building; two forms of photo ID required.

Webcasting: The event will also be available for viewing on http://www.internetbroadcast.com/un/index.html from 29 November through 10 December.