UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today launched a major campaign that asks the world to stand together #WithRefugees. In a stunning video message more than 60 global celebrities join with refugees and aid workers to echo the message, “we stand with refugees, please stand with us.” The petition appeals for government action on behalf of the world’s forcibly displaced.
The campaign aims to demonstrate public support for families forced to flee against a backdrop of dramatically increased displacement from conflict and persecution on the one hand, and heightened anti-refugee rhetoric and greater restrictions to asylum on the other. The petition will be delivered in advance of September’s historic UN High-Level Plenary of the General Assembly on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants.
Specifically, the petition asks all governments to make sure:
- Every refugee child has an education.
- Every refugee family has somewhere safe to live.
- Every refugee can work and learn skills to make a positive contribution to their community.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Cate Blanchett, who appears in the video from Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, spoke about her support for the campaign:
“We are in the middle of a catastrophic displacement crisis that has already uprooted millions of innocent families, and seen too many lose their lives trying to reach safety. The ultimate solution is political—we need peace and stability. But whilst we wait for that, we—as people with a voice—can and must play our part. We must demand that all countries take a shared responsibility for ensuring refugees have protection, shelter and the chance to live a productive life. If enough of us stand together, we will be heard.”
Fellow UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors joining Blanchett in the video include author Khaled Hosseini and supermodel and former refugee Alek Wek. Others lending support include UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and faith leaders Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Venerable V.Vajiramedhi and actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, Ben Stiller, Dame Helen Mirren as well as singers Juanes, Mika, Maher Zain and Babaa Maal.
“Refugees are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, with the same hopes and ambitions as us—except that a twist of fate has bound their lives to a global refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale,” said Khaled Hosseini. “Together, in solidarity with refugees, we must demand that world leaders take collective responsibility for finding fair, lasting solutions to this crisis. Together, we must ensure humanity and compassion triumph over fear and intolerance.”
The number of people forced to flee their homes by conflict and persecution is now at its highest since the end of the Second World War. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi spoke about why UNHCR was making such a public call to support refugees.
‘’We are in a period of deepening conflict and turmoil in the world, which is causing many more people to flee their homes than before,” said Grandi. “It affects and involves us all, and what it needs is understanding, compassion and political will to come together and find real answers for the refugee plight. This has become a defining challenge of our times.
“In 2015, millions of people were newly displaced, adding again to the global refugee and internal displacement totals. Overwhelmingly, it was countries of the developing world that were most affected, but Europe too witnessed dramatic scenes, as hundreds of thousands of people crossed the Mediterranean in search of safety and refuge. Thousands died along the way.
“At the same time, there was an extraordinary outpouring of empathy and solidarity, as ordinary people and communities opened their homes and their hearts to refugees, and some countries have welcomed new arrivals even while already hosting large numbers of refugees.
“The #WithRefugees campaign and petition aims to amplify those voices of welcome and show that the world stands with refugees.”
The campaign seeks to mobilize massive audiences, creating the largest-ever petition to support refugee cause. The petition can be signed at https://www.unhcr.ca/newsroom/world-refugee-day/.
None of the contributors to the video are available for interview.
Notes to editors:
The video is also available in the following languages:
Spanish: https://youtu.be/TUUsTSe7dnY
Arabic: https://youtu.be/DiAc3KQgxXw
French: https://youtu.be/6MybfrYkqzk
Images of UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors Cate Blanchett and Khaled Hosseini available here: http://media.unhcr.org/Share/kwun1u332tp2xd1px067gg10ttth3570.
All photos: © UNHCR/Jordi Matas
For more information on the #WithRefugees Campaign
In Geneva: Stephen Pattison. Tel: +41 (0)22 739 8275 pattison@unhcr.org
In London: Leona Everitt. Tel: +44 (0)7966 134226 everittl@unhcr.org
About the #WithRefugees Campaign
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency works for a world where every person forced to flee can be protected and build a better future. On World Refugee Day, held every year on June 20th, UNHCR commemorates the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. This year, World Refugee Day is a key moment for everyone to show their support for families forced to flee. By signing the #WithRefugees petition, people from across the globe can call on governments to work together and do their fair share for refugees.
Full list of high profile contributors to the video and petition.
| CONTRIBUTOR & SIGNEES | CONTRIBUTOR TITLE |
| Patrick Stewart | Actor |
| Jung Woo-sung | Actor & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador |
| Douglas Booth | Actor |
| Cate Blanchett | Actor & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador |
| Benedict Cumberbatch | Actor |
| Maher Zain | Musician |
| Mika | Musician |
| Alek Wek | Model & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador |
| Alessandro Gassman | Actor |
| Muzoon Almellehan | Syrian refugee & advocate for education |
| Juanes | Musician |
| Natalia Lafourcade | Musician |
| David Morrissey | Actor |
| John Green | Writer |
| Rebecca Hall | Actor |
| Morgan Spector | Actor |
| Venerable V. Vajiramedhi | Faith leader |
| Will Ferrell | Actor |
| Alan Cumming | Actor |
| Kristin Davis | Actor |
| Jillian Michaels | TV personality |
| Khaled Hosseini | Writer & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador |
| Barbara Hendricks | Classical Singer & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador |
| Baaba Maal | Musician |
| Fally Ipupa | Musician |
| Helen Mirren | Actor |
| John Abraham | Actor & Goodwill Ambassador |
| Neil Gaiman | Writer |
| Amanda Palmer | Musician |
| Ash | |
| Dianna Agron | Actor |
| Gavin Rossdale | Musician |
| Ben Stiller | Actor |
| Bassem Youssef | Satirist |
| Neshan Der Haroutiounian | TV presenter |
| Elena Anaya | Actor |
| Jesús Vásquez | TV presenter & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador |
| Carlos Vives | Musician |
| Cecilia Suárez | Musician |
| Chiwetel Ejiofor | Actor |
| Simon Pegg | Actor |
| Margot Robbie | Actor |
| Bryan Adams | Musician |
| Rokia Taroré | Musician & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador |
| Scarlett Johansson | Actor |
| Anoushka Shankar | Musician |
| Georgina Chapman | Fashion Designer |
| Fatima Bhutto | Poet/Writer |
| Bruna Marquezine | Model/Actor |
| Theo James | Actor |
| Dan Reynolds | Musician (Imagine Dragons) |
| Melitina Staniouta | Gymnast |
| Rubén Albarrán | Musician |
| Alberto Lati | Writer |
| Osvaldo Laport | Actor & UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador |
| Jose Moreno Brooks | Actor |
| Katarzyna Bonda | Writer |
| Krystyna Czubowna | Journalist |
| Tomasz Kammel | TV presenter |
| Lang Lang | Musician |
| Mark Haddon | Writer |
| Sami Yusuf | Musician |
| The National Parks | Musicians |
| Gillian Slovo | Writer |
| Kamila Shamsie | Writer |
| Amanda Palmer | Musician |
| Steve Coogan | Actor |
| Chris Cleave | Writer |
| Emi Mahmoud | Slam Poet |
| Emma Ferrer | Model |
| Carey Mulligan | Actor & War Child Ambassador |
| Aaron Taylor-Johnson | Actor |
| Abbey Lee Kershaw | Actor/Model |
| Stanley Tucci | Actor |
| Sam Taylor-Johnson | Artist/Director |
| Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu | Faith Leader |
| Ban Ki-moon | UN Secretary General |
| Filippo Grandi | UN High Commissioner for Refugees |
| Demian Bichir | Actor |
| Alfonso Herrera | Actor |
| Not Featured in the film but signees
to the petition |
|
| David Nicholls | Writer |
| Jeremy Thomas | Film producer |
| Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) | Musician |
| Eugenio Derbez | Actor |
| Adrian Lester | Actor |
| Richard Curtis | Producer/Director |
| Mark Rylance | Actor |