UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Roger Moore travels to Kazakstan

ASTANA. November 17. KAZINFORM Hollywood actor Roger Moore went to Kazakstan for a five-day visit to help raise awareness and support for vulnerable and disabled children, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

Moore, who achieved worldwide fame for his role as James Bond and has served as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for nearly 20 years, is accompanied by his wife Kristina and will meet with high-level officials, members of the business community and civil society.

The trip also includes an event organized by Special Olympics and UNICEF which will highlight the importance of sports and healthy living in developing children's cognitive skills, and a visit to a home that provides care for abandoned and disabled children.

UNICEF and Special Olympics work in partnership throughout the world to champion the rights of children with disabilities and to encourage national action to ratify and implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The central Asian country houses more than 150,000 children with disabilities and only about one-third of them have access to educational and developmental programs while many others continue to live in state-run institutions.

The popular British actor has served as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for nearly 20 years and earlier traveled to Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Mexico, the Philippines and Zambia, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com