KINGSTON, Jamaica (August 10, 2004) – In addition to its usual annual awards, this year UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund invites young Caribbean reporters working in the region and also those from Caribbean communities in North America and Europe to submit their work for the UNFPA 2004 Caribbean Media Awards to be presented in Kingston, Jamaica this November. The two new categories have been added to the competition which recognises print, radio and television reporters' efforts under the theme “Caribbean Youth and HIV/AIDS: A Positive View”. This includes stories or reports on such subjects as curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS, combating early initiation of sexual activity, fostering behavioural change, promoting gender equality, sexual exploitation (including sex tourism) and the connections between population, poverty reduction and sustainable development. According to Mrs. Hetty Sarjeant, Kingston-based UNFPA Representative for the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean: “There has been too much stress on fears and negativity, so much so that it is important to emphasize the positive things about human sexuality, and how these can be used in HIV prevention. This will make the messages about behavioural change more attractive and palatable to the youth to whom we are appealing.” “Unfortunately, our Caribbean culture promotes a deafening silence around the subject of sex, and because HIV/AIDS is primarily transmitted by sexual intercourse, the silence has been extended to cover HIV/AIDS,” Sarjeant added. “We believe that journalists can assist in breaking the silence and sparking broader social discussion in this whole area.” Presented in Kingston on Friday, November 19, 2004, this year’s UNFPA Caribbean Media Awards will recognise writers, editors and broadcasters for work published or broadcast between October 15, 2003 and September 15, 2004 in print, radio or television, and in the new youth reporter (under 21 years of age) and Diaspora reporter categories. Entries will be accepted by respective UNFPA Liaison Officers in Belize, Guyana, Suriname, the UNFPA Representative in Jamaica and the Washington-based Counterpart International, co-producers of the event. For entry forms and further instructions, visit www.caribbeanmediaawards.com/entry Deadline for entries is September 15, 2004. Single, multiple or joint entries will be accepted from the following Caribbean territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, St.Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Turks and Caicos Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. Entrants should send two copies each of their entry or entries. A written transcript assists judging radio and TV entries. Entries will be accepted for news reports, features, series, human interest stories, on-air contributions to public debate, soap operas, films and documentaries, while investigative work is welcome. Confronting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, is an urgent challenge, especially among the Caribbean’s youth. Given the threat of HIV and high teenage fertility rates, more attention needs to be given to reproductive health information and services for adolescents. UNFPA (www.unfpa.org) supports programming in all these areas, and is active in multi-agency, multi-sectoral processes to catalyze sustainable economic and social development within the framework of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (www.un.org/millenniumgoals ). For further information, contact Counterpart International Communications Associate Liz Moore (emoore@counterpart.org or + 1 202 296-9676) or UNFPA Advocacy and Communications Advisor Yvonne Roberts-White (ywhite@unfpa.org or + 1 876 906-8591).