NYC - On May 12, 2009, from 6 - 9 PM, in the
United Nations delegates dining room Graydon
Carter, Chuck Close, Antonio Maria Costa, Shafik
& Gigi Gabr, Rosella Jardini, Donna Karan,
Eleanora Kennedy, Calvin Klein, Jeff Koons, and
Russell Simmons hosted "Welcome to Gulu", an
exhibition and benefit art sale for the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
and the International Criminal Court Trust Fund
for Victims (TFV). All proceeds from
ticket and art sales will benefit former child
soldiers and abducted girls.
The "Welcome to Gulu" UN exhibition and benefit
art sale, exhibited 200 paintings created by
human trafficking survivors plagued by rebel
groups in northern Uganda. The artists are
former child soldiers and abducted girls who
were victimized, maimed , and exploited for
violence against civilians in a dramatic case of
contemporary slavery.
During a special ceremony at the event, curator
and acclaimed artist Ross Bleckner was appointed
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Goodwill Ambassador to combat Human Trafficking.
A selection of the "Welcome to Gulu" work
created by the children of Gulu will be
exhibited at New York's Lehman Maupin Gallery
beginning May 15, 2009.
The evening was generously fully underwritten by
ARTOC and its Chairman Shafik Gabr. ARTOC
is an Egyptian multidisilplinary global
investment company. ARTOC has underwritten
the "Welcome to Gulu" event as part of its
corporate social responsibility program, in the
name of Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of
Egypt and Chairperson of the Suzanne Mubarak
Women's International Peace Movement's End Human
Trafficking Now initiative:
www.endhumantraffickingnow.com