The media is our big tool, we should use it. I think we should get marketing people in and rehash it

Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell

Stars like Michael Douglas, Mia Farrow, Mohammed Ali and Geri Halliwell discussed their experiences as celebrity advocates, and their views on how the UN can improve its image in the future.

The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, joked that he couldn't play the violin or pole vault so he felt a bit out of place.

Geri Halliwell: Previously unaware of many of the UN's achievements

But his purpose was serious, both in thanking the goodwill ambassadors for their work and gauging their ideas about what could be improved in the future.

The former Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell, who promotes the UN's Population Fund, gave a pop singer's assessment of what the UN has to do. "I think we've just got to work on the image of it as a whole, make it exciting," she said.

"As well as the negative things and the plights, I think we should... really bring the media attention to all the positive stuff that it's done.

" I didn't know half of the stuff that's been achieved.

"The media is our big tool, we should use it. I think we should get marketing people in and rehash it."

Cynicism

Susan Sarandon: Has encountered media scepticism

Some ambassadors like actress Susan Sarandon expressed shock about the cynicism they had encountered from the media about their role.

Balloonist Bertrand Picard said he tried to talk to politicians about the UN's causes but all they wanted to talk to him about was his adventures.

Many confessed to feeling frustrated after visiting those living in dire poverty that they couldn't ensure that aid reached the people they'd met.

But all appeared determined to continue their role as goodwill ambassadors - promoting the causes which are close to their hearts.