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Czech model and entrepreneur Petra Nemcova is the official UNDRR��World Tsunami Awareness Advocate, a Day which is commemorated on 5 November every year.

Petra was officially recognized by Robert Glasser, former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction in a ceremony held at the Japan Society in New York in November 2017 for three years.��

Petra Nemcova not only survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand under terrible circumstances but also found a way to continue living, sharing her experience and putting her entrepreneurial spirit at the service of people affected by disasters.��

Today, Petra Nemcova is the head of All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response which has financed 232 resilient schools in disaster-affected communities in more than 12 countries such as Peru, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Haiti, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Nepal to the benefit of over 100,000 children. All Hands and Hearts works with 53,000 volunteers from 116 countries and aims at addressing the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural hazards.��

Co-founded in 1999 by the world-renowned conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim and the late Palestinian scholar Edward Said, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra unites young musicians from Israel, Palestine and several Arab countries to promote inter-cultural dialogue through music.�� The Orchestra has performed at the main international festivals and music centres, as well as at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations in New York, and the Human Rights Council Room in Geneva.

In February 2016, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra was designated as a United Nations Global Advocate for Cultural Understanding.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) supports the Orchestra in its mandate as Global Advocate to promote tolerance, understanding and unity among peoples of different cultural and religious identities.

A Platino Award winner, Ariel Award nominee and the first Spanish speaking actress to be nominated for an International Emmy, Ms. Suárez raises awareness on violence against women and girls and other forms of human rights violations, including to more than one million people on her social media platforms. Ms. Suárez has been actively engaged with the Spotlight Initiative since 2018, with a particular focus on ending femicide in Latin America. She was designated a UN Global Advocate for the Initiative effective 1 July 2020.

The first United Nations Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding situations

On 3 December 2023, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Giles Duley was appointed as the first United Nations Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding situations. Mr. Duley is a documentary photographer, writer, storyteller and the CEO of the charity Legacy of War Foundation.

In 2011, while working in Afghanistan, Mr. Duley was severely injured by an improvised explosive device and was left a triple-amputee. He underwent dozens of operations and returned to Afghanistan to continue his work as a photographer the next year. His work focuses on the long-term humanitarian impact of conflict and seeks to drive change for people with disabilities through sustainable, localized projects. This year he has been working extensively in Ukraine where the Foundation has delivered specialized aid including wheelchairs, medical equipment and ambulances.

As the UN Global Advocate Mr. Duley advocates for the immediate and long-term needs and rights of persons injured in conflict and living with disabilities, including those affected by explosive ordnance. And he will ensure that the voices of those disabled by explosive ordnance are heard in the larger conversations on persons with disabilities in peacebuilding processes. In accepting the appointment Mr. Duley explained:

“It’s an honor to see my work recognized by the UN in this appointment, but my work has always been to amplify the voices of others, and so this appointment honors all their stories. In my role I represent them all, and I will continue being a conduit for their stories, advocating for all civilians left disabled by war and representing them in their search for justice and the support that is their right.

“In war those with disabilities are often represented as victims, denied equality in humanitarian support and excluded from peace processes. It is time for change. And if we work together, we have the strength and opportunity to create that change.”

Mr. Duley’s role as Global Advocate is administered by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), Department of Peace Operations.

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In July 2025,��Maryam Bukar Hassan��was designated a Global Advocate for Peace.

Maryam is a Nigerian spoken word artist, poet, influencer, and peace advocate whose work bridges art, activism, and feminism. Born in northern Nigeria, Maryam uses her platform to champion women’s rights, youth empowerment and peacebuilding in communities impacted by violence and displacement.

Her poetry, performed on global stages from Rome to Kampala and at UN Headquarters in New York, speaks to the resilience of women and youth on the frontlines of conflict and the power of creative expression to inspire change. Maryam’s advocacy extends beyond performance as she works with youth networks, grassroots organizations, and international forums to promote inclusive peace processes, challenge the status quo and amplify marginalized voices, particularly with populations at risk.

As the first Global Advocate for Peace for the UN Peace and Security Pillar, Maryam will continue to use her voice and influence to raise awareness of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas, promoting the leadership of women and young people in building sustainable peace.

Maryam’s role as Global Advocate is jointly administered by the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) and the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), which together form the UN Peace and Security Pillar.

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In October 2025, Professor Brian Cox was designated UN Champion for Space.

A leading physicist and renowned science communicator, Professor Cox is dedicated to inspiring global audiences about the power of space and science for sustainable development.

He is a Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester and The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science. As a member of CERN’s ATLAS experiment, his research has advanced our understanding of the universe.

Beyond academia, Professor Cox has captivated billions through acclaimed BBC series such as The Planets, Human Universe, and Solar System. His bestselling books and world tours have made science accessible and inspiring to people of all ages and backgrounds.

As UN Champion for Space, he advocates for the peaceful exploration and use of space, highlighting the essential role of space solutions for tackling global challenges. His advocacy supports the mission of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to promote international cooperation, the implementation of space law, and access to space science and technology for sustainable development, and COPUOS, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in developing global space governance.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an actor, filmmaker, and entrepreneur known for films such as 500 Days of Summer, Inception, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and SuperPumped: The Battle for Uber. He also wrote and directed Don Jon, a prescient Sundance favorite.
 
Gordon-Levitt has always been passionate about the intersection of media and technology, co-founding the two-time Emmy-winning online community for creative collaboration, HITRECORD. He has written multiple op-eds about the need for individuals to be compensated when their content is used to train AI models. He recently started publishing “Joe’s Journal” on Substack and is set to direct an upcoming thriller about AI for Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman’s T-Street.

As the United Nations’ first Global Advocate for Human-centric Digital Governance, Gordon-Levitt will collaborate with the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to advance a vision of digital governance that is inclusive, responsible and people-centred. In this role, he will support efforts to make digital policy discussions more accessible to wider audiences, with particular attention to artificial intelligence, digital platforms and online information ecosystems. Through engagement with global, regional and local communities, he will help amplify diverse perspectives and highlight the human impact of digital transformation, especially in contexts where technological change is advancing rapidly but unevenly.