Tennis star Sania Mirza appointed as UN Goodwill Ambassador

The United Nations appointed its first woman Goodwill Ambassador from South Asia yesterday: Ace Tennis Player Sania Mirza. UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Women deputy executive director Lakshmi Puri announced that Mirza being a woman of achievement represents girls' and women's struggle for equality, which is why she was chosen for the honour.

The player believes that it’s an honour for her to serve UN Women as the Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia. She announced, "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."

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The player also added that she wishes to work towards educating women about gender equality. Mirza said that the culture in the sub-continent makes women believe that they are second-class citizens and that needs to change. She also talked about the need for government intervention to make sports more women friendly in India.

A statement by UN Women stated: "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." Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also praised Sania adding that her appointment was a moment of pride for the country.