The #showyourselfie campaign has generated support for young people all around the world. WE have shared our voices and WE have shown decision makers that we care about the rights of youth. But we are not the only ones. Key political leaders, government officials, and change-making activists have been lending their voices to the cause as well.
The voices of the these leaders are crucial because they help drive the changes that we, as youth, are demanding with our selfies. These high level officials can:
- Stress the importance of youth involvement in decision making processes
- Push for change and prioritize the rights of young people in the post-2015 development agenda
- Influence other high-level officials to join the cause
- Spread the message
So, who have been some of the most influential people supporting #showyourselfie?
1.)Ban-Ki Moon, UN Secretary-General
Ban-Ki Moon is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations and former diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affair. He has been a wide supporter of youth rights and snapped his very own selfie!
2.) Malala Yousafzai, Political Activist
Malala Yousafzai is a 17 year old activist who has made waves fighting for education for women and girls. She has spoken at the United Nations, won Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize, and was named one the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. Malala has used the #showyourselfie campaign to amplify her message to see a world where every girl goes to school.
3.) Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director
Babatunde Osotimehin is the current Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and former Minister of Health of Nigeria. He has been outspoken about his support for young people and the need to invest in their future. Over the course of the #showyourselfie campaign he has taken to twitter and othermedia outlets to show his support.
We cannot allow history's biggest generation of young people to be invisible - #showyourselfieNOW! http://t.co/1zxryikR3G#IYD2014
— Babatunde Osotimehin (@BabatundeUNFPA) August 12, 2014Other political leaders around the world have also been showing their support and taking their very own selfies, as featured on the AFPPD facebook page. I have certainly enjoyed seeing these important politicians take a silly selfie or two.
Here is the Delilah Gore, Minister of Education, Science, Research and Technology of Papau New Guinea
This one has Yrgal Kadyralieva and Irina Karamushkina, Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, and Bibidavlat Afzalshoeva, Minister of Tajikistan
And this selfie features Normala Binti Abdul Samad and Mariany Mohammad Yit, Political Activists from Malaysia
Now it’s time to get involved
We need young people and world leaders alike to join the movement and show that the voices of young people are important to create a sustainable future! Post a picture of yourself using #showyourselfie and call on someone else to do the same! Tag your favorite political leaders and activists and ask them to join the cause.
One young person at a time, one world leader at a time, we can spread the message of investing in young people to the whole world.
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Nina Stein