CURRENT UPDATE: UN WOMEN'S GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR SOUTH ASIA

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.