Open Letter to UNICEF calling to end the collaboration with Mr. Beckham as “Good Will Ambassador” and urge UNICEF to take a stronger and more robust stance on addressing the global epidemic of alcohol harm burdening children, their rights and well-being.
Mr. Beckham is a global icon that has wide appeal among children worldwide. Surely, UNICEF knows that, relies on that and seeks to harness that for UNICEF’s noble goals. But so does the alcohol industry – for promoting their harmful products that evidently contribute to burdening children and youth. Diageo has opposing interests. For Diageo, children are not rights-holders but future bottle holders, frequent customers and loyal brand affiliates.
In this context, IOGT International is deeply worried about the fact that Mr. Beckham was chosen to present the “voices of youth” – when one of his business partners continues to lobby aggressively against the Best Interest of the Child, against the well-being and protection of the most vulnerable.
Being mindful of the evidence of how big a burden alcohol puts on the world’s children, and being acutely aware of the active role Diageo and its allies are playing in opposing any measure that would substantially reduce that burden, IOGT International calls out Mr. Beckham’s lack of credibility and legitimacy as UNICEF Good Will Ambassador in general and as presenter of “the voices of youth” at the United Nations in particular…
