Press photos on global challenges to be displayed at U.N.

By Lee Chi-dong NEW YORK, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) - An exhibition of dozens of award-winning international press photographs, co-hosted by the United Nations and South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, arrives here this week for display at U.N. headquarters. The exhibition is aimed at enhancing public understanding of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty, hunger and illiteracy around the globe as well as promote human rights, sustainable development and gender equality. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend the tape-cutting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Monday, along with Kiyotaka Akasaka, U.N. under-secretary-general for communications and public information, Tom Curley, president and CEO of the Associated Press, Kim Sook, South Korea's ambassador to the U.N., and Park Jung-chan, president and CEO of Yonhap. Also on hand will be top diplomats from more than 30 nations and some South Korean business leaders in the U.S. "I think photojournalism is all about communication and about visual communication," said Santiago Lyon, AP director of photography and chief judge for the competition. "(It is about) telling stories through photographs in a way that is effective and immediate and unforgettable because of the power of the still photograph." The Yonhap International Press Awards are expected to help publicize the significance of the U.N. campaign, he added. In 2000, the U.N. member states adopted eight anti-poverty goals, called the Millennium Development Goals, to improve women's and children's health and reduce poverty, hunger and disease by 2015. A total of 34 photographs selected from 5,536 entries will be on display in the visitors lobby of U.N. headquarters until Sept. 8. It marks the first time that a South Korean news outlet has organized such an international press photo event abroad. The photos also will be on display in South Korea's major cities until Sept. 30. The local exhibition kicked off Aug. 10 in Seoul. The photos are posted on the official Web site, www.yippa.net, as well. Yonhap plans to donate all profits from the event to the U.N. for its disaster-relief works and campaign for anti-poverty and environmental protection.