CARMEL, California — Emma Watson already saved the wizarding world as Hermione Granger, but now she has the opportunity to make change in the real global community. The recent Brown University graduate will join the ranks of celebrities working to promote the United Nations’ causes as the newest Goodwill Ambassador with United Nations Women.
Watson confirmed her appointment to the position on July 7 via Twitter.
“Being asked to serve as U.N. Women’s Goodwill Ambassador is truly humbling,” Watson said. “The chance to make a real difference is not an opportunity that everyone is given and is one I have no intention of taking lightly.”
The young British actress already has experience in humanitarian work and visited the impoverished regions of Bangladesh and Zambia to promote girls’ education.
Watson’s appointment is the first under the new director of U.N. Women under Secretary General Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
“The engagement of young people is critical for the advancement of gender equality in the 21st century,” Mlambo-Ngcuka said. “I am convinced that Emma’s intellect and passion will enable U.N. Women’s messages to reach the hearts and minds of young people globally.”
Watson will be promoting the HeForShe campaign, a program under U.N. Women that calls upon men to join the fight for women’s rights. Her youth and fame will prove valuable assets in engaging the next generation in a united stance for global gender equality.
U.N. Women as a whole works to combat the struggles facing the female half of the world population. The title stands for The U.N. Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and is one of the newest U.N. programs, started in July of 2010.
Powerful and iconic female representatives worldwide work together to fight discrimination and improve the lives and futures of women and girls.
Watson is hardly the first celebrity to get involved with advocacy for the United Nations. Stevie Wonder, Michael Douglas and Drew Barrymore have all used their fame for good, promoting U.N. projects like the World Food Programme. Angelina Jolie took the position as Special Envoy of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in 2012 after serving as a Goodwill Ambassador.
U.N. Women features two other Goodwill Ambassadors: Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand and actress Nicole Kidman. Kidman assumed the role in January 2006 and serves as a spokeswoman for the Say NO-UNiTE to End Violence against Women program, where she focuses on the human rights violations inflicted on women across the world.
Celebrities have been volunteering with the U.N. since the 1950s, and it is becoming a key way of raising awareness. Music artists, actors, athletes and anyone already in the public eye bring their fame to the U.N.’s projects. As a result, their brand and voice can draw their fans to the issues.
For example, the statistic that one in three women around the world face violence and vast inequality sounds more compelling coming from Nicole Kidman rather than a study. Celebrities have an established audience that they can educate on the U.N.’s key issues and count on to spread the word.
Watson embraces this responsibility as she becomes the next Goodwill Ambassador for U.N. Women.
“I still have so much to learn,” Watson said. “But, as I progress I hope to bring more of my individual knowledge, experience and awareness to this role.”
– Caitlin Thompson
Sources: Huffington Post, TIME, BBC, Telegraph, UN News, UN Women 1, UN Women 2, HeForShe, UN Women South Asia
Photo: The Guardian