MORE THAN ONE BILLION READERS

Everything started in 1949 with a six-page document produced on stencils. A few years later these pages were printed in black and white and subsequently in color. Now it has become a magazine read by the whole international community in Geneva and, through Internet, in other parts of the world.

This month UNSpecial has reached a new planetary notoriety as it has become known to more than one and half billion persons. Thanks to the fact that its December cover, representing a young Chinese lady, has been reprinted by the People’s Daily which is read not only by every Chinese in China but also abroad.

This little success story, which is a definite ego booster, is even more satisfying in that UNSpecial doesn’t cost a penny to the organizations. On the contrary, not only is the editor or any of the editorial board not paid but its advertising revenues are used to finance social cultural activities as well as contribute to the work of the UNOG Staff Council and the WHO Staff Association.

For this International Women’s Day, let me add that this young Chinese woman has in the meantime received a number of employment offers as well as a number of marriage proposals.