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Beijing, April 2007 - The M.A.C AIDS Fund today announced a 1 million RMB [129,000USD] donation to UNICEF -China in support of the “Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS” Global Campaign, launched in China last year by the Chinese Government. Ms. Carol Shen, Managing Director of Estee Lauder, owner of the M.A.C Cosmetics brand, presented the cheque to UNICEF-China Representative Dr. Yin Yin Nwe at a star-studded Press Conference held at Beijing's Ritz Carlton Hotel.

M.A.C celebrity Ambassadors for China, including singer Li Yuchun (Supergirl 2005), actor/producer Vivian Wu, and actor Pace Wu, have provided taped messages in support of the campaign, as has actor Christy Chung who was unable to attend the event.

M.A.C has been an international partner with UNICEF in support of its work with children and AIDS, with funds generated from their “VIVA GLAM” lipstick and other social programme revenues.
 
Building win-win partnerships for Youth AIDS Prevention in China

As in most of Asia, where 80% of new HIV infections affect the 15-24 age group, China's children and youth are strongly represented among the 70,000 new infections each year. Despite increased government investment in mass education campaign, many young people, especially those from hard-to-reach groups such as migrants, ethnic minorities and that out-of-school, still lack the information they need to protect themselves from the epidemic.

Nor is the lack of information limited to rural areas. A 2006 study of over two thousand middle-school students in a major Chinese city revealed that the first sexual experience of 40 percent of respondents had taken place without protection.

The key to protecting young people lies in knowing ‘The Ten Fact on AIDS” which this partnership with M.A.C and the Chinese youth campaign is to focus.  M.A.C's donation will be used to mobilize Youth Ambassadors and M.A.C Celebrities for the vital task of raising young people's awareness. The “10 Facts” tell young people how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS while encouraging them also to respect those living with --or affected by-- the epidemic.

As a company focused on young people, M.A.C and its celebrities are well placed to get this information into the hands of those who need it most.

Empowering Youth to Become a Force for Change

The China Campaign has over 100 Youth Ambassadors who were nominated by their peers for their outstanding work in HIV/AIDS prevention and care in schools and communities. They can help both to increase information dissemination and reduce discrimination towards those affected or infected by the epidemic. Knowing “The 10 Facts” will reduce the ignorance on which fear and discrimination are based, making the Youth Ambassadors a powerful force for change.

Once discrimination can be removed, people will feel safe to access the Chinese government's life saving prevention, care and treatment services—thereby providing a further boost to the Campaign.

The Youth Ambassadors will develop their own creative ways of LEARNING the 10 facts, SHARING the 10 facts with peers and family; and CARING about people affected by AIDS. This they will do through youth-led peer education and activities in art, theatre, sports and the Internet.  All this will be made possible through the M.A.C partnership which marks a best practice for companies operating in China.

“This partnership demonstrates China's private sector leadership in responding to young people and AIDS”, said Dr. Yin Yin Nwe at the press event, “it is an excellent example of a win-win partnership—for young people, for businesses, for China's fight against AIDS.”

Global Partners Joining Hands in China
This partnership between M.A.C and UNICEF in China marks a further extension of what has been a global cooperation based on the sales of “VIVA GLAM” lipstick and the active involvement of celebrities. The four M.A.C. AIDS Fund China Ambassadors -- Vivian Wu, Christy Chung, Li Yuchun and Pace Wu-- will go on field trips to UNICEF-supported HIV/AIDS prevention and support programmes to advocate for the greater involvement of young people and society at large, in China's response to AIDS.

About UNICEF:
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world's leader for children, working on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

The Ten Fact on AIDS