Secretary-General's remarks at screening of "What's Going On" TV series

Today's headlines are often about problems that can be seen as insurmountable.

This series takes us behind the headlines, to meet boys and girls who share their lives with us: their struggles, fears, hopes and dreams

The series does not shy away from exploring the tough issues facing young people:

- It may be a teenager fighting against the stigma of HIV/AIDS;

- a girl denied education because she must work to help her family survive;

- an indigenous teenager trying to forge an identity in a modern world.

These stories of personal courage engage viewers, and motivate them to get involved.

Our celebrity hosts who worked on the series are a key to getting these stories to a wide audience.

Shashi Tharoor has already mentioned some of them: Ronan Tynan, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins, who were supposed to be here tonight.

But there are many others: Danny Glover, Michael Douglas, Angelina Jolie, Meg Ryan; Laurence Fishburne, Richard Gere, Sonia Braga and Rachel Ward. And we many others will contribute their time and talent to bring attention to the misery of billions around the world.

The United Nations has great stories to tell, and I'm afraid we don't always tell our story effectively. Thank you for helping us get our stories out.

Partnerships like this one—which bring together celebrities, the UN and media networks help us get those stories out to a much wider audience in a much more effective way.

The United Nations is about giving a voice to people who do not have one, speaking for the voiceless, the vulnerable and the weak.

This wonderful series gives young people and families in developing countries a chance to tell their own story: to share with us their lives, their dreams and daily challenges.

I want to thank everyone here tonight—and the young people of the series—who have helped make this series possible.