CANNES – In September 2016, World Leaders will mark the first anniversary of the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. These Global Goals are a mighty plan to end poverty, fix climate change and address inequalities over the next 15 years, but they will only succeed if they address the needs of the most marginalised first, particularly girls and women. Project Everyone has convened the first Global Goals campaign for girls and women to fight for Goals which are famous, financed and focused on girls and women.
The campaign today previewed the “#WhatIReallyReallyWant” film at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in partnership with Getty Images and SAWA, the global cinema advertising association. The film is an updated version of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe music video to reflect the voices of girls and women all over the world telling world leaders what Goals they ‘really really want’ to be achieved to help improve their lives. These include issues like quality education, an end to violence, an end to child marriage and equal pay for equal work.
The film was previewed at a seminar by SAWA at Cannes Lions, ‘Power of Cinema to Drive Cultural Change’, ahead of its official online launch in July 2016. This iconic awareness raiser will also be in SAWA member cinemas internationally between July and September 2016, distributed globally through Unique Digital.
Directed by MJ Delaney and produced by Moxie Pictures, the film features actors, singers and dancers from India, South Africa, Nigeria, UK and the US. The film and campaign will call on people to share a picture of #WhatIReallyReallyWant for girls and women and the visual response from around the world will then be presented to world leaders at the UN General Assembly in September.
This demonstration of mass public support for the rights of girls and women will be used to engender new political and financial commitments from governments, in support of their commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Global Goals campaign for girls and women was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos this year, at a dinner attended by high profile advocates for the girls and women movement such as Melinda Gates, Sheryl Sandberg, Freida Pinto, Queen Rania of Jordan, Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala, Obiageli Ezekwesili, Bono, as well as NGOs and campaigns including Unicef’s Fight Unfair, ONE’s Poverty is Sexist, Global Citizen and Chime for Change.
MJ Delaney, Director, said ‘This is about modern day Girl Power: The Spice Girls were about a group of different women joining together and being stronger through that bond, and these differences are what we want to celebrate in this film, while showing there are some universal things that all girls, everywhere, really really want.’
Richard Curtis, Writer, Director, Comic Relief Co-Founder & SDG Advocate said ‘Last year the UN, Project Everyone and many partners launched a mass awareness-raising campaign reaching 3 billion people in just 7 days with news of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This year we’re keeping up the noise and going deeper – fighting for 15 decisive years – trying to show how the Goals contain the answers to the world’s problems, from the refugee crisis to disease, humanitarian disasters to terrorism and war. And especially focusing on the incredible importance of progress in the area of girls and women – Global Goals for Global Girls.’
Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, originally from Sri Lanka said: ‘Gender discrimination has to stop and the global community has to start putting girls first. We need to create a community where girls feel strong, safe and supported and have equal access to education, technology, health and sanitation. What I really, really want is for people to recognize the potential of girls when they are allowed to study instead of doing household chores. And what I really, really want is to end violence against women. I want women to feel powerful and beautiful. Nothing can stop us once we are given equal opportunities and are allowed to flourish in a secure, supportive environment. The world needs a dose of girl power and that’s why I’m supporting the Global Goals Campaign for girls and women.’
Gail Gallie, Co-Founder of Project Everyone said: ‘We’re here in Cannes to launch this ad, not only to send an important message to world leaders about the importance of prioritizing girls and women in the Global Goals, but also to lead by example with a quality piece of storytelling devised, produced, directed by – and starring – powerful women. Gender Equality will only be achieved if we have equal participation of women and girls at all levels of decision making, creative industries included.’
The film #WhatIReallyReallyWant will be online in July 2016 on Global Goals’ official YouTube channel and in SAWA member cinemas internationally. To access the YouTube link click here: https://www.youtube.com/c/theglobalgoals
