12 December 2015, NEW YORK
“Let’s stand for the world as it SHOULD be. That’s what the 7 Million Voices are telling us” – Deputy UN Secretary-General Jan Eliasson
Last week, the MY World global survey achieved its 2014 goal of reaching 7 MILLION people around the world!
Thanks to the dedication and hard work of MY World partners, 7 million people from 194 countries have had their say at the United Nations. A special thanks is owed to the government of Nigeria which has led an incredible outreach during the past two months.
In celebration of this achievement, and to ensure that the UN is listening to these voices, We the Peoples – Celebrating 7 Million Voices, a special report detailing the global results of the MY World survey was launched at United Nations Headquarters in New York last Friday.
Photo Credit: UNPhoto/Yubi Hoffmann
According to Corinne Woods, Director of the UN Millennium Campaign, the report details how the results of the MY World survey reveal important trends for the Post-2015 Development Agenda, “The existing Millennium Development Goals continue to be important, but we also see new issues which people prioritize highly, such as ‘An honest and responsive government,’ ‘Protection from crime and violence,’ and ‘Better job opportunities.’”
“We need a paradigm shift and a coming together. MY World results show there is more that unites us than divides us. Working together we can be the generation that ends poverty and preserves the planet,” added Ms. Woods.
The ceremony, hosted by the UN Millennium Campaign and the Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Youth Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, presented this report to member states and specialized agencies of the United Nations. The Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, Ambassadors of the Netherlands, and Ireland, representatives from the UK, Nigeria, and Venezuela, and representatives from UN bodies and MY World partner organizations were among the individuals to receive reports.
To highlight the essential role of individual voice in the MY World survey, the event featured performances of the personal stories which were heard during the 2014 Humans of MY World global tour. Chanel Dupree and Kesed Ragin of I Sell the Shadow performed these powerful narratives.
Photo Credit: UNPhoto/Yubi Hoffmann
“For the UN to continue to be a credible actor, we need to connect to these 7 Million Voices” Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson stated in a brief speech. To raise these voices, the evening concluded with the entire crowd participating in the UNICEF #IMAGINE campaign, by singing “Imagine” by John Lennon. Young vocalist Ms. Katie Gurney led the crowd in song.
As we look forward into 2015, let’s imagine a United Nations where every voice truly counts. As the Deputy Secretary-General exclaimed during the ceremony, “let us go from 7 Million to 7 Billion Voices!” We truly believe that with the incredible dedication of MY World partners, this aspiration is achievable.
If you were unable to attend the event, please enjoy the web-stream of the celebration and the video of the UNICEF Imagine sing-along.
