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UNICEF celebrates 20 devoted years of James Bond
star Sir Roger Moore as a Goodwill Ambassador...
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Sir Roger Celebrates 20 Years
9th August 2011
Press Release
Today
marks
the 20th anniversary of Sir Roger Moore’s service as a
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and the popular British actor and
humanitarian is going strong in his starring role as an advocate
for the world’s most vulnerable children.
“I’ve been an exceedingly lucky actor, and the luck
of it all was that I was able to come and work for UNICEF,” Sir
Roger has said. “I think that working with UNICEF has taught
me humility. I realize that when I was trotting around the world
as 007 I did not appreciate how the other half lives – in
fact, it’s more than half.”
Since his appointment as a Goodwill Ambassador in August 1991,
Sir Roger has visited UNICEF-supported programmes around the
world, bringing attention to children’s needs and enlisting
widespread public support and donations. He has given compelling
voice to a range of issues, from HIV/AIDS to landmine injuries,
disability rights, iodine deficiency and more.
Raising Awareness
In November 2001, Sir Roger helped launch the partnership between
UNICEF and FIFA, the world governing body of football, which
includes a focus on preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS among
young people.
At the same time, he played a key part in promoting Kiwanis
International's Worldwide Service Project, which has raised more
than $90 million for eliminating iodine deficiency, the primary
cause of preventable mental retardation and brain damage. Sir
Roger received the World Service Medal from Kiwanis for that
work.
Iconic Roles
He also received the German Federal Service Cross in 2003 (for
his involvement in battling child trafficking) and the Dag
Hammarskjöld Inspiration Award in 2007. The following
year, he received the title of Commander of the National Order
of Arts and Letters, in France.
Sir Roger was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire
in 1999 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, in recognition
of his work with UNICEF. But he is perhaps best known for his
successful stage, television and film career, in which he played
two iconic action characters, The Saint and James Bond.
