Unicef has today launched a video with the influential director and photographer Rankin that is to be promoted across digital channels. It highlights the plight of children uprooted by war, poverty and famine.
The film, Do You Believe a Child is a Child, shows refugee children watching footage of other children in dangerous situations around the world. Many of those featured in the film are themselves refugees.
The motivation behind the international children’s organisation’s video, which has a soundtrack by the band Bastille, was to be provocative and urge the viewer to see past the stereotypes about refugees and migrants. The children are presented as any other child would hope to be seen, with similar hopes and dreams: of "being a superhero", to "have my mum put me to bed" and "just wanting a hug".
Lily Caprani, Unicef UK’s deputy executive director, said: "We’re so used to hearing about the refugee and migrant crisis, but the truth is that half of these refugees and migrants are children. First and foremost, this is a children’s crisis."
The video is being shared across all Unicef’s social channels in the UK and internationally, as well as by the charity’s ambassadors, supported by the hashtag #AChildIsAChild.
What do you see?
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) September 12, 2017
RT to stand with refugee & migrant children. We must never forget that #AChildIsAChild. #ChildrenUprooted pic.twitter.com/gkVqUcav5s
