ARGENTINA: Argentine singer Diego Torres is named UNICEF ambassador

UNICEF officials named Argentine singer Diego Torres an ambassador of goodwill on Tuesday (November 7) at a ceremony in Buenos Aires. Officials from the UN organisation for children and young adults recognised the singer for supporting human rights. Andres Franco, the regional director for UNICEF's private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed his pleasure at welcoming the 35-year-old crooner to the organisation. "For us at UNICEF it is a great joy to have you in our family. Turning into our ambassador you help by doing what you have always done, except now with us," Franco said. Two young adults, one from Argentina and the other from El Salvador, read petitions from their respective countries and welcomed the singer to UNICEF. Then Torres' nephew presented him with a backpack, a soccer ball and UNICEF's declaration on the human rights of children. After joking that the document was a guide on how to play football, Torres took a more serious tone, saying his past efforts in help children in need had lead him to join forces with UNICEF. "Nothing happens just because and I think our paths have crossed because we were going in the same direction. I am very happy and I was happy when I received the news. Obviously, it's an honour to participate and be a member of UNICEF," Torres said at the UNICEF centre in Buenos Aires. Colombian pop-star and UNICEF ambassador Shakira, who recently kicked off a campaign to fight violence against children in El Salvador, sent her best wishes via video. Torres joined the UNICEF ranks replete with blockbuster performers including Ricky Martin and Robbie Williams. Torres, who is preparing for two large shows this weekend in Buenos Aires, was joined by his family and girlfriend, model Debora Bello. The Buenos Aires-born singer has several gold and platinum albums to his credit and has recorded with Latin American legends like Dominican Juan Luis Guerra.

ITN Source | November 15, 2006

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