French Actress, Elsa Zylberstein, joins the Campaign
	Dr. Biolek swings into action with DSW
	Lara Dutta, Miss Universe 2000, speaks out
	"Art & Intimacy" with the House of Groove

Elsa Zylberstein was officially appointed UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and Face to Face Campaign Spokesperson for France on February 6, 2001. As Goodwill Ambassador and Campaign Spokesperson, Ms. Zylberstein will mainly focus on Africa, which has many French-speaking countries in its western and northern parts. She will disseminate information, raise awareness of population and development issues among the public in France, and encourage print and electronic media to cover population concerns in order to increase international assistance to improve access to reproductive health services.

"About 500,000 women die every year of complications of pregnancy and childbirth; that is one woman every minute," said Ms. Zylberstein. "Something must be done about it. That is why I have decided to use my fame to make this situation more widely known, and above all, to support those who are working to prevent such deaths."

Ms. Zylberstein asserted her resolve to support the UNFPA, and added a need to, "…apply pressure on our leaders, on the individuals who manage France’s international aid, to ensure it is better allocated. To ensure that a considerable part of the 37 billion that France gives every year goes to basic health and education programs. To ensure that a considerable part goes to supporting local associations who are working to prevent women in their villages from dying when giving life.

Ms. Zylberstein was born to a prominent doctor in 1969 in Paris, where she lives. She has appeared in more than 30 movies, such as "Jefferson in Paris" and "Farinelli", and has acted on stage. The new Goodwill Ambassador has won critical acclaim for her performances in movies, such as "Van Gogh", "Mina Tannenbaum" and "Metroland".

Face to Face welcomes Ms. Zylberstein and welcomes her contributions to the Campaign. She will work with the Face to Face Campaign partner in France, Equilibres & Populations. Learn more about Ms. Zylberstein and the Face to Face Campaign by visiting http://www.facetoface.org/spokespersons.html .

Less than two months since being appointed UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and Face to Face Campaign Spokesperson for Germany, Dr. Alfred Biolek has scored major hits for raising awareness of reproductive and sexual healthcare needs of women and adolescents worldwide. Working closely with Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW), Face to Face Campaign Partner in Germany, Dr. Biolek appeared in Germany's most popular Saturday night TV-show, "Wetten, dass..?", to talk about his engagement against unwanted pregnancies and HIV/AIDS. There, Dr. Biolek called upon more than 15 million viewers to support his personal commitment: to set up a youth centre in Soweto, South Africa where young people can find support, training and counseling concerning HIV/AIDS and contraception.

In addition to a donation hotline (Tel: +49 190 050 500), Biolek launched an Internet auction of personal belongings of stars. The auction will last for a year, beginning with a series of gifts from prominent guests of the show. Among others, Chris de Burgh donated a hand-signed guitar and the Riverdance team a pair of handmade original Riverdance dancing shoes.

What will Dr. Biolek and DSW do to top this in the months ahead? Track their progress by logging on to www.bios-botschaft.de or www.dsw-online.de .

15 February 2001: United Nations, NY
Lara Dutta addresses the Indian Government and international community ...

I went to my home country, India, at the invitation of UNFPA’s Face to Face Campaign. This was the first time during my reign as Miss Universe that I had a chance to visit projects that work to empower adolescent girls and women, give them an education and skills and provide them with reproductive and sexual health information and services. These issues are the ones that I consider to be vital for the future of India, a country with xxx young people under the age of 24. The choices that they have, the decisions that they make about the size of their families or when to start them, will largely determine whether coming generations will have more opportunities rather than less and whether the children of the 400 million Indians who live at or below the poverty level now, will have the means – namely information and education – to improve their lives and contribute to India’s development.

I am absolutely convinced that without empowerment of adolescent girls and boys, without access to reproductive and sexual health information and services, young people will lack the necessary tools to make rational choices about their future. They need to have control over their own bodies and the right to decide for themselves when to marry, how many children to have, and when to have them. These are fundamental building blocks in any modern society; but they are critical in India, where the population is already over 1 billion and growing by 17 million a year and where poverty and deprivation are widespread.

We in the developed world take these rights for granted, but they must be fought for in many developing countries. It is particularly important that adolescent girls be afforded the same opportunities as boys, in particular equal access to education and jobs.

There cannot be development for only half the population. A society that does not invest in girls and women is a society that will be left behind; it will not develop to its potential.

The challenges are great but so is the willpower to overcome adversity and make an impact in the lives of adolescents. This is what I want to. To make a difference, to help empower adolescent girls and boys and to make sure that development train doesn’t leave half the population in the station.

The Face to Face Campaign uses traditional and untraditional means of raising awareness for women’s rights to reproductive and sexual health care. Because we are seeking to bring face to face the women not able to exercise their basic human rights with the people who want to help but don’t know how, we are joining with the House of Groove to raise funds for women’s sexual and reproductive health issues and to promote safe sex initiatives.

The House of Groove is holding "Art & Intimacy," an auction to benefit the Face to Face Campaign on March 13, 2001, in New York City. The exhibit will feature original art from Malcolm Brown, award-winning painter and father of J. Brown, founder of House of Groove, best known for its safe sex initiative. Represented in the permanent collections of more than two-dozen major institutions, his art appeared in the movie, "Waiting To Exhale" and his image "Midnight Jam Session" enhances the packaging for the Groove "Urban Cut" Condom – soon to be sold on the Face to Face Website. The evening’s host will be renowned jewelry designer Jill Platner, www.jillplatner.com. Other guests will include actor Bokeem Woodbine (3000 Miles to Graceland, The Rock, Dead Presidents) and a few Face to Face Spokespersons.

By joining to promote women’s power to negotiate safe sex, Face to Face and House of Groove enhance each other’s goals of helping people make healthy decisions without compromising personality. The House of Groove and Face to Face hopes to bring together artists, actors and a young, urban crowd to create synergistic events throughout the USA that are philanthropic and sexy.

Sponsoring the "Art & Intimacy" event on March 13, 2001: BET, Soomska Vodka, Tony and Tina, and 411 Magazine.
Check out the House of Groove at www.houseofgroove.com, and please, GROOVE RESPONSIBLY!