Innovative Global Events: 1.4 Million Signatories + Presidential Support
THE SETTING
The #WithRefugees hashtag is an ongoing UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) call-to-action. An online campaign utilizing this hashtag encouraged virtual signatures for a petition supporting refugees and persons of concern’s rights.UNHCR wanted to host an engaging event to deliver the petition to the Secretary-General of the United Nations during the United Nations’ first Summit on Refugees and Migrants.With a considerable amount of moving parts across the world, the Geneva public outreach and campaigns team contracted Jennifer for seamless event outreach, management and execution.Delivering A Global UN Event
The pillars used to elevate this event included:PREP AND SETTING THE SCENE
The schedule, layout, invite list and team assembled were part of the strategy in mitigating the ongoing Summit, and how best to maximize exposure and limited time. First of its kind innovations were used to ensure attention grabbing. In addition to several oversized screens displaying eye-capturing photos in the General Assembly Hall and slam poetry being played over the speakers as guests entered, we also displayed the #WithRefugees hashtag on each country seat’s nameplate for clear visibility in-person, and via livestream, video and photo footage. Leveraging the famous nameplates and livestreaming from the General Assembly Hall had never been done before. ENLISTING IMPACTFUL AMBASSADORS
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors Ben Stiller and Alek Wek, and Yiech Pur Biel and Yusa Mardini, #TeamRefugee Olympic athletes, presented during the event. The General Assembly Hall was filled with civil society partners, diplomats, chiefs of agencies and other high-profile guests. MAXIMUM REACH
We employed a nationally renowned public relations agency, as well as the Facebook Live team to reach traditional and new media, and digital platforms. The event was at the fingertips of millions globally. NAVIGATING UN SECURITY PROTOCOL
We ensured seamless entry and movement among guests and media, crossing every T and dotting every I of the intricate protocol and security operations at the United Nations. #WithRefugees Results
These management pillars played a pivotal role in a streamlined event that collected more than 1.4 million signatures.#WithRefugees petition signatures from around the world. Among the signees were foundations, universities, civil society partners and stakeholders such as: Google, the International Olympic Committee, the IKEA Foundation, Oxfam and Save the Children.President Barack Obama highlighted his support, tweeting a photo of himself and Yusra on the official White House account, with the #WithRefugees hashtag.Media coverage resulted in 275+ placements and 820+ million impressions.
“[Ben] Stiller and [Alek] Wek visited the U.N. General Assembly on Friday to present Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with a petition bearing over 1.3 million signatures, calling on governments to act with solidarity and shared responsibility for the world’s 21.3 million refugees.” - AP
