SANIA
MIRZA NAMED UN WOMEN'S GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR SOUTH ASIA
Indian tennis star Sania Mirza was on Tuesday appointed the UN Goodwill Ambassador for the South Asian region by UN
Women at an event held to mark the International Day to End Violence
against Women.
UN Women, the United
Nations organization dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment,
today announced the appointment of tennis superstar and youth icon, Sania
Mirza, as its Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia. Sania is the first South
Asian woman to be appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador in the organization’s
history.
Sania is India’s most
successful women’s tennis player and the first Indian to break into the World
Tennis Association’s Top 50 rankings. She has won several Grand Slam Mixed
Doubles Titles and other International Tournaments. For her achievements she has
been awarded by the Government of India with the honours of Padma Shri and the
Arjuna awards.
She has been a role
model to many children, including girls, to break barriers and strive for their
goals in life and career choices. She has used the spotlight on her
professional success to highlight social issues that are of concern for many
Indians, speaking out on issues such as the need to halt the practice of female
foeticide and the decreasing sex ratio in India. She has repeatedly urged a
changing of the mindset that discriminates against the girl child and expressed
her strong desire to spread the message of gender equality.
Sania’s appointment
coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against
Women. Globally, one in three women and girls will experience physical or
sexual violence at some point in her life. More often than not, violence
against women is committed by an intimate partner. To raise awareness on the
issue, the UN commemorates 25 November every year as the International Day to
End Violence against Women. UN Women, the UN organization mandated to advance
women’s empowerment and gender equality, is leading the global mobilization of
partners from all walks of life, including governments and civil society.
Symbolizing a brighter
future without violence, orange has been designated as the colour for the
initiative.
This day also marks the
start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence – an
international campaign which takes place each year, and runs from 25 November,
(International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), to 10
December (Human Rights Day). It is used as an organizing strategy by
individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of violence
against women and girls. This year the UNiTE campaign has put out a call to
“Orange YOUR Neighborhood” which kicks off on 25 November, with people around the
world displaying the colour to demonstrate support and symbolize hope for a
future free from violence against women and girls.
UN Women’s other Goodwill
Ambassadors include British actor Emma Watson,
Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman, HRH
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of
Thailand, and Indian actor-filmmaker-singer Farhan
Akhtar.
