United Nations published this video item, entitled “Supermodel Natalia Vodianova – New UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador & UN Daily Press Briefing (24 Feb 2021)” – below is their description.
Daily Press Briefing by the Spokespersons of the Secretary-General & the President of the General Assembly.
Press Conference by Ms. Natalia Kanem, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director, along with Ms. Natalia Vodianova, supermodel, philanthropist and impact investor. UNFPA will announce Ms. Vodianova is their newest Goodwill Ambassador.
Supermodel, philanthropist and impact investor, Natalia Vodianova was today appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, to empower women and girls by tackling the stigma and taboos that surround their bodies and health and lead to pervasive discrimination and exclusion.
Raised in poverty by her mother in Russia, with a half-sister who has cerebral palsy and autism, Natalia Vodianova is a passionate advocate for human rights, including reproductive rights and the rights of people living with disabilities.
“It’s important to know that women and girls living with disabilities face double discrimination, and are disadvantaged, because of both their gender, and they disability,” said Vodianova to reporters in New York following her appointment. “With the UNFPA at my side, I look forward to continuing my work to talk about the myths and taboos that billions of women, girls, and vulnerable young people have to live with and raise the standard of women’s health and dignity.”
Over the past three years, Vodianova and UNFPA have hosted a series of global events together under the “Let’s Talk” banner to dismantle taboos and advance women’s health and gender equality. These events have inspired action from governments, civil society and the private sector to create an environment in which women and girls can live free from shame, exclusion and discrimination. Change-makers, policy-shapers and influencers from sectors including fashion, politics, sports, civil society, technology and media have gathered in Turkey, Kenya, Switzerland, Belarus and India to raise the standard for women’s health around the world.
Endorsing Vodianova in her role of the UNFPA’s Goodwill Ambassador, the agency’s Executiove Director, Natalia Kanem said “since she met a fashion representative in the Russian market where she sold fruit and vegetables with her family and throughout her journey to today, becoming one of the most recognized names in fashion, and modelling, miss Vodianova has dedicated her time and her efforts to speak up on behalf of women and girls and to speak out against harmful attitudes pertaining to their bodies and health as she did in leading sessions at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD 25 in 2019.”
Strongly established in the sectors of fashion and technology, Vodianova plans work to connect these industries with the United Nations to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
“Natalia, we at the UNFPA look forward to continuing our work with you in this era of the Sustainable Development Goals. We share the hope, and the expectation that every woman and girl everywhere can grow up safely, live in dignity and exercise for full bodily autonomy, free from shame or exclusion or discrimination,” Kanem said.
Screenshot: (from archive) A scene from the movie by Glenio Bonder, “Belle du Seigneur”, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers (left) and Natalia Vodianova (right), is filmed inside the Palais des Nations’ Council Chamber at the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG), Switzerland.
Credit: UN Photo/Pierre Albouy
United Nations YouTube Channel
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