Global Compact Supports World Humanitarian Day, Urges Companies to Tell the World, “I WAS HERE!”
(3BL Media) New York, NY - August 17, 2012 – In advance of World Humanitarian Day 2012 on Sunday, 19 August, the UN Global Compact is encouraging all companies to join the “I WAS HERE!” campaign. Organized by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the online campaign aims to amplify support for humanitarian efforts worldwide by reaching one billion people with pledges of humanitarian action.
World Humanitarian Day is a global day to celebrate humanity and all things done for good around the world. It also honours those who have lost their lives in humanitarian service globally, and those who continue to bring assistance and relief to millions of people.
For this year’s campaign, international star Beyoncé and songwriter Diane Warren have donated the song, ‘I Was Here’, which the singer performed live in the UN General Assembly Hall on 10 August to a crowd of 1,200 fans, dignitaries and humanitarians. The video of her performance, along with pledges of humanitarian action registered on the I WAS HERE website (www.whd-iwashere.org), will be released on 19 August through social media and on screens in Times Square in New York City and Dubai, Geneva and Addis Ababa.
By signing up to the cause using an organization’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, companies will be vital in helping to reach additional followers with the World Humanitarian Day message, and play a part in realizing OCHA’s goal of reaching one billion people.
“Everyone can be a humanitarian. All it takes is one act to help someone else,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos during the event. “That’s the spirit of people helping people.”
About World Humanitarian Day
Every year on August 19th, World Humanitarian Day recognizes those who face danger and adversity to help others. August 19th is the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 people. We honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and we pay tribute to those who continue to help people around the world, regardless of who they are and where they are. Every day we see and hear images and stories of pain and suffering in our own neighborhoods and in countries far away. But we also find acts of kindness, great and small. World Humanitarian Day is a global celebration of people helping people.
- Tell the world, “I WAS HERE!” Visit www.whd-iwashere.org and click on Show Your Support.
- Learn more about World Humanitarian Day 2012.
- Go behind the scenes with Beyoncé on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day: www.beyonce.com/news/inside-iwh
