Face to Face: Women on the Edge of the Millennium
	Finnish Face to Face Press Conference
	Women on the Edge of the Millennium, Airtime Schedule
	What is Väestöliitto?

On October 14, 1999, in Helsinki, Finland, V?est?liitto, The Family Federation of Finland organized a press conference and luncheon to promote the television premiere of Face to Face: Women on the Edge of the Millennium. Produced and directed by Mikko Kuustonen, UN Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador and Face to Face Campaign Spokesperson for Finland, the 10-part series will be aired Friday evenings on Channel Four.

Filmed in eight countries over the last year, the documentary series was funded by the Face to Face Campaign V?est?liitto, and the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department for International Development Cooperation (FINNIDA). Generous in-kind support was provided by Channel Four, Finland.

The shows feature women who have met with and are overcoming great personal hardships. Female genital mutilation, domestic violence, natural disasters, child prostitution and drug addiction are some of the circumstances these women face everyday. A few of the programs interview women, such as Shabana Azmi, Indian actress, parliamentarian and UN Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador, who have dedicated their lives to helping others.

During the press conference, attendees were given a preview of the documentaries. There was not a dry eye in the house after the story of Mariana Castro of El Salvador. Mariana lost everything in a flood except a few articles of her dead mother's clothing.

The purpose of the series is not to generate public sympathy for the sufferers but to inform the Western public that many of the conditions and rights that we take for granted are not enjoyed by millions of others -- a situation each one of us has the power to change -- one life at a time.

On behalf of the sponsors of the Face to Face Campaign -- the United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation -- the Campaign management takes this opportunity to recognize and thank the representatives of V?est?liitto, Channel Four, and FINNIDA who attended the press conference in support of Mikko Kuustonen's TV documentary series Face to Face: Women on the Edge of the Millennium.

Representing FINNIDA, we would especially like to thank Director General, Mr. Glen Lindholm; Deputy Director General, Mr. Christian Sundgren; and Mr. Matti Remes, Head of Information Unit.

The following media organizations covered the event:

* Nelonen, Channel Four

* Suomen Tietotoimisto, Finnish news agency

* Finnish Broadcasting Company/Radio Finland

* Huvfudstadsbladet, Swedish daily newspaper in Finland

* Anna, women's magazine

* Apu, weekly magazine

* Katso, TV magazine

* Ilta-Sanomat, afternoon newspaper

* Iltalehti, afternoon newspaper

* Kansan Uutiset, newspaper of the Leftist Party

* VihreS Lanka, newspaper of the Green Party

Airtime Schedule, Channel Four, Finland - Fridays at 20:20

5 November
Leila Ayana Ethiopia

This charismatic teenager stands firm against FGM in her family and community. She proves with her attitude that the "impossible" can be closer than we imagine.

12 November
Truengruethai Jingponjorn

Thailand Truengruethai was tortured by her foster parents and fled to a life of prostitution. Now with HIV, her story reveals her fighting spirit and her desire to live.

19 November
Mariana Castro El Salvador

Mariana lost her home in the floods of Hurricane Mitch. She misses her mother and grieves the life which let her down.

26 November
Waris Dirie Somalia

Waris Dirie suffered genital mutilation as a young girl and then fled from her home to escape an arranged marriage.

3 December
Letitia Samora Suarez Mexico

This young mother in the "zona marginale" area of Mexico City has a family with AIDS. Letitia's only future is the one she shares with her children. She already considers her own life to be over.

10 December
Shabana Azmi India

Charismatic and strong willed, this Indian actress also works as a parliamentarian. Shabana acquired her passion for equality and justice both at home and from the work of her father.

17 December
Olga Veronica Palomino Benegas Mexico

Olga is a pregnant woman whose first daughter was born with Down's syndrome. She lives in the slums of Mexico City and does her best to protect family members and herself from her husband's violence.

31 December
Dominica Garcia Thailand/Philippines

This Philippino doctor practices in Bangkok among immigrants and prostitutes. Dominica has found her meaning in life through her career.

7 January
Nena, Maria Madgalena Lopez Reyes El Salvador

This former prostitute and drug addict works in an organization, "Flor de Piedra (Rock Flower)", to help people like herself.

14 January
Mama Linda Tanzania

Afraid of becoming disabled, Mama Linda leaves the community she loves, moves to the middle of the Morogoron jungle, and becomes a strong-willed matriarch in a nursing home.

Väestöliitto, The Family Federation of Finland is a non-governmental organization working for the welfare of individuals and families. It was founded in 1941 and has 26 member organizations. The main objective of the organization is to produce services and do research for the private and public sector, which in turn promote a society favorable to individuals, families and children.

Väestöliitto takes initiative to reform legislation concerning individuals and families. It also carries out social and medical research, and gives counseling in family affairs, family planning, heredity diseases, and infertility. V?est?liitto publishes material on human relationships and sexual health, and offers consultative aid and education to professionals in the respective fields. V?est?liitto also provides temporary childcare in the metropolitan area.

International Cooperation

Väestöliitto works to enhance the implementation of the Programme of Action accepted at the ICPD in Cairo in 1994: to universally ensure peoples' access to sexual and reproductive health services; to enable people to make real choices about family size; to expand educational opportunities and improve the status of women; and to ensure the sexual health and rights of young people. This is done by doing advocacy work among decision-makers and media and by participating in overseas development projects.

Väestöliitto has had information collaboration with the UNFPA since 1986. The Federation distributes UNFPA's Annual Report and lends out UNFPA videos. V?est?liitto also is part of UNFPA's international campaign, Face to Face, designed to publicize the plight of millions of women denied basic human rights. The Campaign Spokesperson for Finland is Mikko Kuustonen, who is also UN Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador at V?est?liitto's initiative.

Väestöliitto is presently involved in two overseas projects. The prevention of HIV/AIDS among young people in Mexico is funded by the Finnish Foreign Ministry. The project of strengthening family planning and STD prevention in a primary health care setting in rural Malawi is funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.