Monday, 23 October

9:30    Participants assemble

Messengers of Peace and Goodwill Ambassadors gather in the Delegates’ Dining Room before proceeding to the ECOSOC chamber together.

10:00    Opening

Welcome remarks by Secretary-General

10:15    Video Montage

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Screening of a 3-5 min. montage, prepared by the United Nations Department of Public Information, showing Messengers of Peace and Goodwill Ambassadors in action, with narration.

10:25    Moderated Discussion

"The UN and Celebrity Advocacy in an age of Cynicism", Riz Khan, CNN International, Moderator

Messengers of Peace/Goodwill Ambassadors are joined by invited guests—including heads of United Nations programmes and offices, journalists; representatives of non-governmental organizations; students and others—to discuss the phenomenon of celebrity advocacy and action on behalf of the United Nations.

There will be 5-minute lively presentation to illustrate the value of involving prominent personalities in United Nations efforts. United Nations staff with field experience will make these presentations, using anecdotes about real events and real people. 3-minute television reports from the "UN in Action" and video clips will help illustrate the issue at hand. Messengers of Peace and Goodwill Ambassadors will be invited to add their own comments.

Messengers of Peace and Goodwill Ambassadors will receive more specific information about the issues and stories to be spotlighted before the event. Issues highlighted will reflect themes that feature in the Secretary-General’s Millennium Report, and the Declaration adopted by the Millennium Summit: promoting peace, security and disarmament; eradicating poverty; promoting development and human rights; protecting vulnerable people and the environment; fighting drug abuse and AIDs; giving young people access to education and employment, giving special attention to the needs of Africa, and making it possible for people in the developing world to benefit from advances in information technology and communications.

12:00    Summing Up Riz Khan comments

12:05    Programme Ends

12:20    Official Group Photo taken by UN Department of Public Information

13:00    Luncheon

Delegates’Dining Room. With the exception of a brief camera spray, the luncheon will be closed to the media. Messengers of Peace and Goodwill Ambassadors will be encouraged to share with the Secretary-General, and programme/office heads their ideas and suggestions for increasing the impact of what they do on behalf of the United Nations.

14:30    End of luncheon

Afternoon: a special tour of the Headquarters is arranged for Messengers of Peace/Goodwill Ambassadors. Media interviews and "mini-press conferences" will be arranged to the extent that Messengers of Peace/Goodwill Ambassadors are willing and available to meet with the United Nations press corps and journalists from their own national press.

Evening: Messengers of Peace/Goodwill Ambassadors are invited by the United Nations Development Programme to attend the awards ceremony and performance in observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in the General Assembly Hall (18:30-20:00); Messengers of Peace/Goodwill Ambassadors are also invited as guests of the United Nations Correspondents Association annual gala for the benefit of the Dag Hammarsjköld Scholarship Fund in the United Nations Delegates’ Dining Room (20:00-23:00).

Tuesday, 24 October

19:00     United Nations Day

Messengers of Peace/Goodwill Ambassadors will be invited to attend the UN Day Concert in the General Assembly Hall. Performance of the Vienna Philharmonic.

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