UNICEF to partner with Dialog Star Points

Dialog Axiata has joined hands with UNICEF to support their efforts in preventing child abuse through Star Points, Sri Lanka’s largest loyalty rewards network.

Through this partnership Dialog Axiata’s 7.5 million loyal customer base will be able to donate their Star Points to show their solidarity with UNICEF’s efforts to break the culture of silence and indifference towards child neglect, violence and abuse.

Funds generated through the Star Points rewards will contribute to the ‘Violence-Free Society for Children’ campaign that seeks to build awareness on violence against children and child abuse in communities, schools and homes. As part of this, government protection staff working with families and children in high priority districts will be trained on how to identify and effectively respond to victims of violence and abuse.

The UNICEF Sri Lanka Representative Reza Hossaini said, “Through this partnership Dialog is demonstrating its social responsibility to help end violence and abuse that is affecting the lives of children in this country and destroying the very essence of their childhood.”

According to the Ministry of Justice, around 2,000 cases of child abuse are filed with the Attorney General’s Department each year. Most of the violence is taking place within the family among those a child knows and trusts. A 2005 UNICEF-supported study revealed that 70 per cent of incidents were inflicted by a relative or someone close to the family, while 27 per cent were within a relationship, and 3 per cent of incidents were inflicted by a stranger or person unknown to the victim.

All funds collected from the Dialog Star Points promotion will be channelled through UNICEF Sri Lanka to help prevent child abuse. Campaign materials can be downloaded at www.facebook.com/UNICEFSriLanka.

Star Points is a fully mobile enabled rewards network which enables Dialog’s 7.5 million customers to earn and spend Star Points with 400 plus partner merchants and 20,000 Outlets Island wide. Since its inception, Star Points has offered users a host of value additions including USSD based support functions and the opportunity to exchange Points with other leading rewards networks in the country.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.