Media Advisory
UNFPA, Partners, to Launch new Hellosmile Campaign to Help Prevent Cervical Cancer
07 May 2012
United Nations, New York—The Hellosmile Project, a joint campaign to prevent cervical cancer, initiated and led by TOKYO FM Broadcasting, and which includes UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and other partners, will be officially launched in the United States this week.
The project is initiated by TOKYO FM, one of Japan’s most prominent FM radio stations, in conjunction with the station’s “Human Conscious: Love Life, Join Hearts” campaign. It includes the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; Sanrio, maker of the popular “Hello Kitty” products; UNIQLO, the global clothing company; and Japan Airlines, aims at raising awareness of the risks of cervical cancer and promoting efforts to prevent it worldwide. As part of the campaign, proceeds of a portion of products, including Hello Kitty t-shirts sold by UNIQLO in stores around the world, will go to the Hellosmile Project to help support UNFPA’s work on reproductive health and cervical cancer prevention.
Caused by sexually transmitted infection with human papillomavirus, cervical cancer, although preventable and treatable, still kills more than 270,000 women annually, most of them in developing countries. In Japan, it kills 2,700 women each year.
The United States launch will feature Hello Kitty, the beloved and well-known global icon, which is also the face of the campaign.
What: USA launch of Hellosmile Project
Who:
Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, United Nations Under-Secretary General and UNFPA Executive Director
Mr. Hideto Takeuchi, President, Hellosmile Project; Operating Officer, TOKYO FM Broadcasting Co. Ltd.
Ms. Aya Komaki, Vice President, Hellosmile project; CEO, Nal Co., Ltd.
Mr. Shin Odake, Group Senior Vice President, CEO, UNIQLO USA
Mr. Hiroyuki Hioka, Senior Vice President, the Americas, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.
When: Thursday, 10 May 2012; 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Where: Sanrio Store - 233 West 42nd Street, New York, NY
Journalists and the public are welcome to attend.
For more information, please contact:
Etienne Franca: franca@unfpa.org; Tel: +1-212-297-5208
