The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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#WithRefugees Campaign

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commemorates World Refugee Day (WRD) every year on June 20th. In 2016, the campaign is called #WithRefugees. By signing the #WithRefugees petition, people from across the globe can call on governments to work together and do their fair share for refugees. The #WithRefugees petition will be delivered to United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, United States (US) ahead of the UN General Assembly on September 19 2016. The petition asks governments to:

  • Ensure every refugee child gets an education.
  • Ensure every refugee family has somewhere safe to live.
  • Ensure every refugee can work or learn new skills to make a positive contribution to their community.
Communication Strategies

This advocacy campaign draws on participatory communication to add people's voices to social media to urge: "I stand #WithRefugees". The idea is to build empathy and understanding of people who were forced to flee their homes by seeing them as ordinary people who went through hardship. Twitter, Facebook, and online materials are tools to enable people to express support for the rights of refugees to live in safety. Celebrities such as actress Cate Blanchett are lending their voices; see, for example, the video below in which she recorded a message during her humanitarian visit in Jordan. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has joined with #WithRefugees to create a Twitter presence with #Team Refugees for #Rio2016.

 

In addition to signing the online petition, people are encouraged to spread the word through their own social media channels and to find out more information about how to participate through the events page on the campaign website. They may also read refugee stories and follow other communications around #WithRefugees on this Facebook page.

Development Issues

Refugees

Key Points

WRD is a day to commemorate the strength and courage of over 60 million women, men, and children around the world who have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. All over the world, this day is marked by a wide range of cultural, educational, and sports events with and for refugees.

Anyone who wants to get involved with the campaign should please contact Leigh Foster at Foster@unhcr.org

Sources

Posting from Leigh Foster to the Humanitarian Communication group on LinkedIn, June 5 2016; #WithRefugees campaign website, June 6 2016; and email from Leigh Foster to The Communication Initiative on June 13 2016.