Global celebrities launch video messages in support of World Refugee Day 2014
Global celebrities launch video messages in support of World Refugee Day 2014
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors and supporters release video messages in support of refugee families and ask the public to show solidarity by sharing their stories.
Over twenty celebrities from around the world, including best-selling author Khaled Hosseini, Chinese superstar, Yao Chen, German actress Diane Kruger and Colombian pop music singer Juanes have released a series of 30 second videos supporting refugees and ahead of this year's World Refugee Day on 20 June.
At a time when conflicts are forcing record numbers of people to flee their homes UNHCR is working with its Goodwill Ambassadors and other high profile supporters to tell refugee stories of courage and survival in a bid to bring more attention to the devastating impact of war on families.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said:
"With violence uprooting more people than ever, we are facing unprecedented challenges protecting and helping them. We see the destruction of families and communities on a scale that is truly horrifying, and much more needs to be done to stop and resolve conflicts. These UNHCR supporters are helping us to tell the refugee story, a story of suffering, but also of extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of adversity."
The celebrity videos, which are available from today for media organizations, are part of a coordinated campaign ahead of World Refugee Day, June 20th. They will be hosted on a website that will also feature hundreds of refugee stories, starting today, 2 June http://stories.unhcr.org (Please copy paste link into a new browser window).
Notes to editors
Contacts
- For more information and photos of UNHCR celebrity supporters and Goodwill Ambassadors please contact:
- Alison Tilbe, Manager, Global Goodwill Ambassador programme, tilbe@unhcr.org
- For information on the World Refugee Day Campaign please contact:
- Leigh Foster, Chief, Strategic Communications, foster@unhcr.org
- Stephen Pattison, Public Relations Officer, pattison@unhcr.org
About the World Refugee Day videos
The video messages have been recorded in 13 different languages and all echo the same powerful words - "Let me tell you a story - the most urgent story of our time." The videos are available for broadcast on various platforms, and have been placed with media around the world with the aim of echoing this message across borders and cultures to raise awareness and support for refugees.
A full list of celebrity videos available from (today) June 2nd is below with links to download each video.
About World Refugee Day, June 20 2014
One World Refugee Day, June 20, UNHCR commemorates the strength and resilience of the millions people around the world forced to flee their homes due to war or human rights abuses. In the past year unprecedented numbers of people are on the move.
This year UNHCR is asking people from all over the world to show their support for families forced to flee by sharing a refugee story. Members of the public can read, view and share refugee stories at http://stories.unhcr.org.(Please copy paste link into a new browser window) and also upload their own story.
List of UNHCR messages (links need to be opened in a new browser window))
- To view the messages on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtPw-Y91GlmVP7sYGPdCIG0BkarSgLICPLink is external
- To download load the video in your browser from the server link below, right click and choose 'save as'.
Alkinoos Ioannidis, Greek Musician
Barbara Hendricks, Singer, UNHCR Honorary Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador
Chantal Kreviazuk, Canadian Singer/Songwriter
Chermarn Boonyasak, Thai actress and model
David Morrissey, British Actor
Diane Kruger, German actress and fashion model
Giorgia Todrani, Italian Singer
Grażyna Torbicka, Polish television personality
John Obi Mikel, Footballer
Juanes, Colombian musician
Jung Woo-Sung, South Korean actor, UNHCR Honorary Advocate
Kat Graham, American actress and singer (The Vampire Diaries)
Khaled Hosseini, bestselling Afghan-American Author, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
Krystyna Czubówna, Polish Journalist and broadcaster
Maher Zain Lebanese, Swedish singer
Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel-Prize winning Peruvian author
Neil Gaiman, British Author and Screenwriter
Omurbek Andarbekov Kyrgyz, musician
Osvaldo Laport, Uruguayan actor and TV presenter, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
Yao Chen, Chinese actress UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
With English subtitles: https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/unhcrmedia-uploads/wrd2014/2014-06-02-china-yao-chen-anne-isger-0602201410530055.movLink is external
