IAA partners with United Nations for World Humanitarian Day campaign
To mark World Humanitarian Day this week, the International Advertising Association (IAA) partnered with the United Nations to thank humanitarians that have been pushed to the limits by the pandemic.
World Humanitarian Day is designated by the UN General Assembly and falls on the anniversary of the attack on the UN compound in Baghdad on 19 August 2003. Since that day 5,000 humanitarians have been killed, wounded or abducted, and in the last few weeks attacks in Niger and Cameroon have killed aid workers on the front line of the pandemic.
Srinivasan Swamy, chairman and world president of the IAA, said: “There can be no supreme sacrifice than the work done by the healthcare workers. They know the extreme risk they take in assisting the humanity at times of health crises like the current one. IAA stands with them and want to offer respect and salute these extraordinary #RealLifeHeros.”
A campaign film to say ‘thank you’ is accompanied by the personal stories from humanitarians facing the challenges of working in the pandemic and facing the threat of violence. The stories have been shared on the official World Humanitarian Day website.
Mark Lowcock, under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, praised the perseverance and courage of humanitarians.
“To humanitarians everywhere doing important, courageous work on the front lines we say thank you. You are saving lives every day and as new challenges and crises are piling on to existing ones, your perseverance is an inspiration. Your protection is also paramount to making sure we can deliver to people most in need. The best way to pay tribute to humanitarians is by funding their work and ensuring their safety,” he said.
Dagmara Szulce, managing director of IAA Global, said: “It was a privilege for the IAA to partner with the [United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] team and engage our members in the development and activation of the #RealLifeHeros campaign. More than ever, the industry needs to collaborate more closely together to demonstrate how advertising can be a positive force globally.”
topics
Dagmara Szulce
IAA
International Advertising Association
Mark Lowcock
Srinivasan Swamy
United Nations
