“We need stories that show us that the values we hold in common are stronger than the labels that seek to divide us. Stories that present a positive vision of our shared future.”

Volker Türk,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Join us

Join us to tell a new story about migration, one of hope and shared values. Together we can bring about change and stand up for migrants’ human rights.

 

#StandUp4Migrants

We believe there is an urgent need to question and change the way we speak about migrants and migration.

When migrants are portrayed in a negative light, their human rights are heavily impacted. They are discriminated, excluded and dehumanised. Communities also become divided.

How we speak about migrants and migration – the narrative – therefore plays a fundamental role in guaranteeing equality and the human rights of migrants.

 

Tell a new story

Stories have the power to uplift, inspire and connect.

Let’s replace narratives of fear, division and exclusion with those of hope, inclusion and the change we want to see. One story at a time.

 

Highlights

#StandUp4Migrants – stories that celebrate a larger ‘us'
To mark International Migrants Day (18 December), we’re highlighting here some of the local events that took place this year where we collaborated with so many partners including migrants, illustrators, muralists, musicians, designers, activists, chefs, and local community members.
MyGreat Cookbook
MyGreat Cookbook is a celebration of the diverse culinary journeys and experiences of women chefs who have migrated and shows the power of food in bringing people together around a shared meal to find common ground.
#MyGreat Cooking Class
We’ve partnered with migrant women chefs at Geneva-based Nik’s Fudo to bring people together at the local level. Every month, participants will be able to go on a culinary voyage with one of the chefs and learn new recipes, share stories and laughter.
Bonding over food and migrant stories in Australia
UN Human Rights partners with the social impact communications agency LoveFrankie to launch, MyGreat Story, a new video series in Australia that uses the universal bonding powers of food and storytelling to promote inclusion of migrants.
Podcast: Do No Harm
In this episode of the UN Human Rights podcast, #StandUp4HumanRights, we focus on how migration is not one-dimensional and why telling individual stories of migration, which reflect all dimensions of people can help avoid the pitfall of triggering a harmful narrative on migration. Meet Musician Austin Zhang who uses the power of music, by harmonizing his saxophone jazz melodies with a recording of his mother’s own story of migration to accentuate the emotions of her story.
Podcast: Build a Big Tent
In this episode of the UN Human Rights podcast, #StandUp4Migrants, we explore why it's important to find allies across advocacy issues and identities. Meet Niria Alicia Garcia, a Xicana human rights advocate whose parents migrated from Mexico to the United States. Our conversation with Niria Alicia explores her activism and insight on how we can multiply our impact by expanding our network to meet new allies.
Podcast: Finding Common Ground
In this episode of the UN Human Rights podcast, #StandUp4Migrants, we look at how finding common ground can help us deepen mutual understanding and empathy, build bridges, and help to identify and open spaces for migrant voices to be heard. Meet Sofija Stefanovic, author of “Alien Nation,” an anthology of 36 tales of migration, as she seeks to create a space where migrants can share their stories and listeners can revel in our shared humanity.
Podcast: Think Local with Nik’s Fudo
In this episode of the UN Human Rights podcast, #StandUp4Migrants, we meet the team from Nik's Fudo who are bringing migrants and communities together at the local level, be it in shared spaces or around shared interests. Join us as we speak with the founders of Nik's Fudo, Nishanie Jayamaha and Nikhil Masilamani, and migrant chefs Safa Gharbi and Naila Samin.
Podcast: The Power of Storytelling
In this episode of the UN Human Rights podcast, #StandUp4Migrants, we’re examining the power of storytelling with Ali Jehad, a photographer from Sweden and former refugee from Iraq, and Robin Hammond, the founder of the 1000 Dreams project, which strives to change existing refugee narratives by telling the stories of 1000 refugees in Europe. Jehad is also a contributing storyteller for 1000 Dreams.
Podcast: Create a Vision of the World You Want to See
January 2022- In this episode of the UN Human Rights podcast, #StandUp4Migrants, we speak to land artist Saype. Saype creates large-scale paintings on grass with biodegradable paint. The artwork can only be seen in its entirety by taking an aerial perspective. Saype uses his artwork to inspire people to have a hopeful vision of the world.
Podcast: Values-Based Narratives
December 2021 - In the first-ever UN Human Rights podcast, we speak to Jose Antonio Vargas. Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker and Tony-nominated producer, and a leading voice for the human rights of migrants. He founded Define American, an organization that focuses on narrative change.
From North Kordofan to Angers: Moussa’s story
December 2021 - UN Human Rights teamed up with Reuters Visual Journalist Maurizio Martorana, who recently travelled to northern France to meet up with Moussa, a Sudanese refugee living in Angers.
Changing the narrative on migration by learning from each other
December 2021 - “To build greater trust and a more inclusive society, we need to look at what we have in common,” says Fiona Servaes, migrant rights activist. “Resilience, compassion, hard work, determination: these are characteristics and values that anybody can have, and remembering this can help us connect to each other, no matter where we come from.”
How art can evoke community
December 2021 - Ellena Ekarahendy designed the powerful illustrations which are at the heart of our campaign. Ekarahendy is a visual communication designer based in Jakarta, Indonesia, and believes in ‘good design for good deeds.
“There’s more that unites us than divides us”
As the media becomes increasingly saturated with negative images of migration, Zino Akaka and other young migrants are working with journalists to spark narrative change, and improve media coverage on migrants’ experiences.
“Home is the people around you”
Meet Nhial Deng – refugee, peace-builder and human rights advocate. On the occasion of World Refugee Day, Nhial is calling for a rethink on how we talk about refugees and migrants.
Dreams for a new life
She may not have met a Bollywood actor yet, but Afghan refugee Tahmeena Noori has made a new life for herself and her family in India.
“I stepped out there, despite all of the odds that were against me.”
Escaping war, Leo Johnson spent 8 years in refugee camps in Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana before arriving in Canada. He now leads an organisation which helps newcomer, refugee and other migrant and marginalised youth and communities in Canada and Liberia.
Standing up for migrant rights, standing up for everyone’s rights
While migrants living in the Mexican city of Tijuana face an uncertain future, civil society organisations are providing legal and community support, and trying to shift the way we tell stories about migration.
A successful life created by a community: Mai Na Lee’s story
Mai Na Lee escaped civil war in Laos more than 40 years ago. She arrived to the United States of America, where she and her family were welcomed with open arms by a small community.
“It starts with the conversations you have with people around you”
Singaporeans are giving free haircuts to migrant workers, and worlds are intersecting and opening up.

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