While celebrities strut the Oscars red carpet and the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, some wear a more subtle accessory: a blue ribbon to show solidarity with the world’s refugee population.
Candidates and Attendees United Nations Refugee Agency(opens in new tab) of (UNHCR) #WithRefugees(opens in new tab) campaign, Union(opens in new tab) A collection of universities, foundations, faith-based organizations, youth groups, businesses and NGOs that help refugees and asylum seekers and call for international assistance to displaced people.
In a press release, UNHCR said, “Having the blue #WithRefugees ribbon on the red carpet sends a powerful visual message that everyone has the right to seek safety, anytime, anywhere.
Americans can now sponsor the resettlement of refugees. Here’s what you should know:
Each ribbon was handcrafted by the team at Knotty Thai Company(opens in new tab)a US apparel company refugee assistance(opens in new tab) Through employment, training and education, I was resettled to the Denver, Colorado area.
Big names like Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett joined the global movement throughout awards season.(opens in new tab)“What I love about movies is the way they draw us into compelling human themes to reveal the connective tissue that holds us all together.” Whenever I meet refugees in my hometown of , the UK, or Australia, it is not their “otherness” that amazes me, but the many things we share.
other actors like sorrow triangleDolly De Leon also expressed support from the film industry. “At a time when so many people in the world are suffering, it shouldn’t be a big demand to show your fellow humans a little kindness and compassion.
Your message is timely and It’s been a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. It has sent millions of refugees around the world and over 103 million have been forcibly displaced.(opens in new tab) ask for help.
The connection between cinema and activism Many of the films nominated for this year’s awards share a common theme(opens in new tab) On Trauma, Loss, and Displacement, including an Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary house made of debris, the story of an orphanage in eastern Ukraine.Santiago Mitre, the heart behind the Best International Feature Film nomination Argentina, 1985directed by Best Picture nominee Edward Berger All Quiet on the Western Frontwere among those who pledged their support through the Blue Ribbon.
They are all supported by activist and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Yusra Maldini. Yusra Maldini tells her story of fleeing her home during the Syrian Civil War in a BAFTA-nominated Netflix film. swimmersMaldini became a member of the first Refugee Olympic Athletes Team. Her older sister, human rights activist Sara Maldini, was arrested by Greek authorities in 2018 for aiding migrant rescue efforts in the Mediterranean.
“As a former refugee, it’s absolutely amazing to see so many artists tonight wearing blue ribbons in solidarity with refugees and displaced people around the world,” wrote young Maldini. “My people and many others are hurting. They need our support. We all need peace.”
