Kathmandu, June 26 :

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and UNICEF have renewed their international partnership for children.

The joint press statement of the ACC and UNICEF on Monday said that as the new agreement continues to promote girls’ education in South Asia and the right of all children to enjoy healthy recreation, it will also now support the global campaign on HIV/AIDS “Unite For Children, Unite Against AIDS”.

UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia and the ACC first signed a two year agreement in 2004 ahead of the Asia Cup. The new partnership runs until 2008.

“UNICEF’s partnership with the ACC is very important to us,” said Cecilia Lotse, Regional Director for UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia. The ACC Chief Executive, Syed Ashraful Huq in the statement said, “As a development body for South Asia’s most popular sport, the health of the young is of paramount importance to us. Child welfare is an integral part of any successful society and we trust that Asia’s success in cricket will be duplicated by the success in UNICEF’s vital campaigns. We are proud to play our part in raising awareness of these important causes.”

The agreement has led to events promoting girls education in Pakistan, Bangladesh and at the Asia Cricket Cup in 2004.

A full ‘Meena’ film promoting the right of girls to play and go to school featuring the cartoon character and school friends playing cricket against other girls was produced by the UNICEF regional Office.