Sania is UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia

Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Sania Mirza joins the campaign to end violence against women and girls and aims to raise awareness on gender equality

Tennis star and brand ambassador of Telangana Sania Mirza was appointed as the UN Women’s good will ambassador for South Asia on Tuesday. She became the first South Asian woman to receive such an honour.

“Sania Mirza has been a role model for girls in India and all over the world. We are pleased and honoured to have such a dynamic woman as our Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia,” stated Lakshmi Puri, assistant secretary-general of the United Nations and deputy executive director of UN Women.

“She has been a youth icon and a beacon of light in sports, a field that is often harder for women and girls, due to an inherently uneven playing field. Not just her achievement in sports, Sania’s strong voice has reverberated across the region on gender issues as well. Sports can make a great contribution to gender equality. We salute Sania’s achievement of putting India on the global tennis map and inspiring thousands of children, many of them girls, to take up sports as a career,” added Puri.

“It is an honour to serve UN Women as the Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia. It inspires me to work harder towards a level playing field for women. Gender equity in sports as well as using sports to advocate for gender equality in communities is essential. Equality depends on each and all of us. From the government that changes its laws, to the company that advances equal pay and equal opportunity, to the mother and father who teach their daughter and son that all human beings should be treated equally, to the athletes who demonstrate equality and excellence” said Sania Mirza.

Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Sania has been a role model for girls and women of India, and her appointment as UN Goodwill Ambassador is a moment of pride for the country. As the custodians of the nation, the government’s constant endeavor will be provide the right opportunities and environment so that other girls can emulate Sania’s success and bring glory to the country.”

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. Other UN Women’s 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.