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Who Is Audrey Hepburn?

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Audrey Hepburn, internationally famous for her career as a beautiful Hollywood actress, considered her involvement in the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, more commonly known as UNICEF, as the most important thing she ever did in life. Hepburn used her fame to earn a position as an International Goodwill Ambassador, which quickly became her greatest passion. In April of 1989, during the Second Sudanese Civil War, she gave her “Statement to the UNICEF Executive Board” to advocate a potential relief program, Operation Lifeline Sudan. Audrey Hepburn’s speech addressed the dire situation in Sudan, showed her support for humanitarian aid, and as an effect launched a series of relief efforts in Africa. Hepburn’s challenging …show more content…

She began her speech arguing that although UNICEF’s mission revolves around aiding children around the world facing conflict, the situation in Sudan calls for higher action. Hepburn continued by noting that the problem lies in “man’s tendency to destroy… everything we hold dear,” including children (Hepburn). Here, she makes it evident that the world must not ignore Sudan’s state, for it exemplifies mankind’s inhumanity, which will eventually cause the downfall of civilization. Hepburn also points out that people are to blame, not nature, for the excruciating famine. She asserts, “These are not natural disasters but manmade tragedies for which there is only one manmade solution - peace,” (Hepburn). At this time, she calls to attention the true culprit of the complication to the UNICEF board. She comments that Operation Lifeline Sudan will have been immensely successful even if it does not accomplish everything it aims to. The program will find success in the delivery of the message of hope and proof that “only through the corridors of tranquility” can Sudan find a solution (Hepburn). Hepburn makes a similar conclusion as Akol: the only chance left for Sudan lies in civil peace. Even so, she understands the limits to her contributions, but she remains optimistic. Hepburn concludes her statement with, “There is so much we cannot do. We cannot give the children back their parents, but we can return to them their most basic human rights, their right to health, cleanliness, and life,” (Hepburn). Her powerful use of pathos here emotionally touches the members of the audience and serves as a call to action for supporting relief in

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