UN launches 'Share Humanity' campaign on social media

United Nations, Aug 14: The United Nations has launched a campaign calling people around the world to share tales of humanitarian heroism on the social media ahead of this year's World Humanitarian Day, media reports said on Friday.

"We're calling on the young and digitally-connected to help us push out these compelling stories and give a voice to the voiceless," said Stephen O'Brien, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

"Young people often ask me what they can do to help and I believe we have a shared responsibility to raise awareness and help to inspire humanity on these global issues," said O'Brien, who is the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and the UN emergency relief coordinator, Xinhua news agency reported.

The #ShareHumanity campaign, to be observed across the entire UN system and beyond and culminating on World Humanitarian Day which falls on August 19, has already captured the endorsements of numerous celebrities and newsmakers from around the world, including Australian singer Cody Simpson, Chinese martial artist Jet Li among others.

The campaign itself called on social media users to "donate" their social media feeds and ultimately seek to leverage the collective power of millennials to inspire "a greater sense of responsibility, solidarity and social activism, using the far- reaching impact of social media," according to OCHA.

The launch of #ShareHumanity came at a particularly critical time for relief efforts around the world amid proliferating crises and funding shortfalls.

World Humanitarian Day is a time to recognise those who face danger and adversity in order to help others. The day was designated by the UN General Assembly to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.

This year, the UN and its humanitarian partners invite all people across the globe to inspire the world's humanity. The theme calls on you to join any humanitarian organisations and become an active messenger of Humanity.

IANS