Smurfs Team up with United Nations in 2017 for Happier, More Peaceful, Equitable World
The popular Smurfs characters are encouraging children, young people and adults to make the world happier, more peaceful, equitable and healthy with a campaign launched today by the United Nations, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Foundation.
The “Small Smurfs Big Goals” campaign is designed to encourage everyone to learn about and support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals agreed in 2015 by all 193 Member States of the United Nations. A public service announcement video will be used to inspire viewers around the world to champion the Goals, which include ending extreme poverty, protecting the planet and giving everyone the chance to enjoy peace and prosperity.
Members of the public can also join “Team Smurfs” by visiting www.smallsmurfsbiggoals.com to find out in multiple languages how they can contribute to achieving the Goals; discover which Goals are best suited to their interests; raise their voices for a better world for all; and share information, ideas and images on social media.
“The entertainment industry moves the hearts and minds of people of all ages, and the UN thanks our friends at Sony Pictures Animation and the Smurfs for this creative effort to mobilize support for the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division in the United Nations Department of Public Information. “We hope this campaign will motivate millions of young people and their families to do their part to end poverty, reduce inequality and protect our planet — three key aspects that will lead to the well-being and happiness of all people.”
Team Smurfs will rally behind the 17 Goals until the International Day of Happiness on 20 March. Voice actors from the upcoming animated movie Smurfs: The Lost Village will attend a celebration at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Saturday, 18 March, to honour youth who have already taken action to achieve the Goals within their own communities.
“We know that children and young people are some of the world’s most passionate advocates on issues that matter to them the most,” said Paloma Escudero, UNICEF Director of Communications. “We must continue to find new ways to empower them to help achieve a world free from inequality and injustice for every child,” she added. “This campaign will give children and young people the platform they need to have their voices heard.”
Veronique Culliford, the daughter of Peyo, who created the Smurfs in 1958, stated: “The campaign message focuses on the notion that every one of us can make a difference, regardless of our size. It’s an honour and privilege for The Smurfs to support the United Nations and to continue our long-standing relationship with UNICEF.”
Demi Lovato, who voices Smurfette in the upcoming animated film, added: “All of us, even a small Smurf, can achieve big goals.”
To view the United Nations/UNICEF Smurfs partnership video, please visit www.smallsmurfsbiggoals.com. For high resolution print and video assets in a variety of formats, please visit http://bit.ly/2jxN43M. Participants can engage on social media using the hashtags #SmallSmurfsBigGoals and #TeamSmurfs.
For media inquiries or requests for press interviews, please contact Carlos Islam, Public Information Officer, United Nations Department of Public Information, at e-mail: islamc@un.org, or tel.: +1 212 963 2985; or Jean Guerin, Senior Vice-President, Media Relations, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group, at tel.: +1 310 244 2923.
About Sustainable Development Goals
In September 2015, Member States unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focused on three interconnected elements: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. With 17 Sustainable Development Goals at its core, the Agenda is universal, integrated and transformative, and aims to spur actions that will end poverty, reduce inequality and tackle climate change by 2030.
For more information, please visit www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment or follow on Twitter at @GlobalGoalsUN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/globalgoalsUN.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child and works with partners in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF’s work, please visit www.unicef.org.
About United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems and broadens support for the Organization through advocacy and public outreach. Its innovative campaigns and initiatives connects people, ideas and resources to help the United Nations solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner as a United States public charity. It is now supported by global corporations, foundations, Governments and individuals. For more information, please visit www.unfoundation.org.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment, Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. For additional information, please visit www.sonypictures.com.